CNN: Morocco navy escorts abortion vessel out of port, group says
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — The government of Morocco has closed the port of Smir and is blocking the harbor with warships to prevent the entry of a Dutch "abortion ship" to the Islamic country, the organization running the ship said Thursday.
Abortion is illegal in Morocco, and the country's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it had not authorized the vessel's visit or any procedures by nonresident doctors.
The abortion ship is run by Women on Waves, which was founded in 1999 by a Dutch doctor to provide abortions to women in countries where the practice is illegal.
Women on Waves doctor Marlies Schellekens told CNN that she and about 10 other members of her group and Alternative Movement for Individual Freedoms, the Moroccan activist group that invited the abortion ship to Morocco, are trying to make their way to the harbor in Smir.
The main entrance has been blocked by police; a female Moroccan lawyer representing the group is trying to negotiate with officers to let the group enter, Schellekens said. Dutch lawmaker Liesbeth van Tongeren is also with the group, she said.
The abortion ship has not yet tried to enter the port, she said.
The Women on Waves ship takes women into international waters to perform the abortions, which are legal under Dutch law, until 6.5 weeks into the pregnancy.
Gunilla Kleiverda, a Women on Waves gynecologist aboard the vessel, stressed that point in an interview with CNN on Thursday.
“I will not be practicing as a gynecologist in Morocco," Kleiverda said.
“We are not going to perform any abortions within Morocco. We are sailing out with women to international waters where in the international sea the Dutch law applies," she said.
Women on Waves also advocates the use of a drug called misoprostol, which it says is available legally in Morocco, to perform abortions up to 12 weeks after conception. The group says it is establishing a phone hotline in Morocco for women to get information on how to perform the abortions at home.
Kleiverda said Moroccan women need access to safe abortions. About 90 women die from illegal abortions in the country every year, she said.
The ship has previously taken the campaign to Ireland, Poland, Portugal and Spain, but this is its first attempt to offer abortions in an Islamic country.
Women on Waves said on its website that it is looking into alternatives to get the ship into port in Morocco after the Smir harbor was blocked.
A ship filled with activists who say they are there to help women receive abortions was escorted out of the Moroccan port of Smir after the government initially blocked the harbor and prevented residents from accessing the vessel.
Abortion is illegal in Morocco, and the country's Health Ministry said in a statement that it had not authorized the vessel's visit or any procedures by nonresident doctors.
The "abortion ship" is run by Women on Waves, which was founded in 1999 by a Dutch doctor to provide abortions to women in countries where the practice is illegal.
The Women on Waves ship takes women into international waters to perform the abortions, which are legal under Dutch law, until 6.5 weeks into the pregnancy.
But authorities in the predominantly Muslim country seemed to effectively block the activists efforts on Thursday.
"The ship was searched, and the captains were informed that they had to leave the harbor," Women on Waves said in a statement. "When asked the reason why, they were informed that although no laws were broken, the ship had to leave Smir."
The ship was then "escorted from the harbor by the navy," though the crew plans to "stay near Morocco" and "strategize their next move."
"I will not be practicing as a gynecologist in Morocco," said Gunilla Kleiverda, a Women on Waves gynecologist aboard the vessel. "We are not going to perform any abortions within Morocco. We are sailing out with women to international waters where in the international sea the Dutch law applies," she said.
A female member of the group told CNN that she and a number of other demonstrators had been in front of the marina in Smir. She said there was a big, aggressive protest taking place and police were present.
She said police said she was "not authorized" to be there.
"I am not going to be intimidated by them," she told CNN before the phone line dropped.
Women on Waves also advocates the use of a drug called misoprostol, which it says is available legally in Morocco, to perform abortions up to 12 weeks after conception. The group says it is establishing a phone hotline in Morocco for women to get information on how to perform the abortions at home.
Kleiverda said Moroccan women need access to safe abortions. About 90 women die from illegal abortions in the country every year, she said.
The ship has previously taken the campaign to Ireland, Poland, Portugal and Spain, but this is its first attempt to offer abortions for women in an Islamic country.
Women on Waves said on its website that it is looking into alternatives to get the ship into port in Morocco after the Smir harbor was blocked.— www.shafaqna.com/English
SHAFAQNA exclusive | Paying allegiance, bowing and kissing the hand of the king: A ritual or controversy? (Video/Pictures)
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – On August 22 and under the burning sun, hundreds of “loyalists”, labours and voters were lined up in Mishwar square in front of the royal palace in Rabat, Morocco for the loyalty and homage celebration marking the 13th anniversary of king Mohammed Al-Sades’ sitting on the throne. The celebration has been postponed t after the end of the month of Ramadan and merge it with the 49th birthday of the king.
Attendants were seen in their embarrassing long white dresses waiting for the opening of the big gates where the king appeared in his luxurious dress riding his horse slowly with small steps and accompanied by his servants, one guiding the horse and the other holding a fancy umbrella to cover the sunlight from his master.
The appearance of the king before his people was supplemented by embarrassing rituals such as firing five cannons and playing military music before paying allegiance to the king. The minister of interior affairs was leading the loyalists and labours followed by the different party members. Attendance of the current government ministers was not noticed.
The members of the parties were quick to start the rituals by bowing extensively to their master (the king) three times saying: “May Allah help you, we say to you oh master”, “May Allah protect you, we say to you oh master”, “May Allah be pleased with you, we say to you oh master”.
This homage celebration has raised controversy among many people in the country and was criticised by political activists and some religious figures considering it a humiliation to the human’s dignity for bowing to other than Allah. Other people were taking the other direction defending this ritual of paying allegiance to the leader due to its “Islamic” historical background. Some went even further considering the umbrella similar to the tree under which some of the Prophet’s (P) companions paid allegiance to him!
Now the question is, do some “Muslims” really went back the ignorance era? How do they call themselves Muslims and yet bow to a human but Allah? Did they lose their dignity and honor to a level so they follow someone who does know anything about the poor and the oppressed in his country and who calls himself “Commander of the faithful”?
No one will ever be called this way but the real Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (A.S.), and no bowing will ever be made, by real Muslims, but to Allah (S.W.T).
Translation by SHAFAQNA from original Arabic article
UN committed to solving Morocco, Western Sahara dispute
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — In a phone call with King Mohammed VI of Morocco this past weekend, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to the negotiation process aimed at reaching a settlement in the Western Sahara dispute.
According to information provided by Ban’s spokesperson to the media over the weekend, the UN chief stated that the UN “does not intend to modify the terms of its mediation, whose purpose is to promote the achievement of a mutually acceptable political solution to this conflict.”
The UN has been involved in efforts to find a settlement in Western Sahara since 1976, when fighting broke out between Morocco and the movement known as Frente Polisario, after the Spanish colonial administration of the territory ended.
A peacekeeping force, known as the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been in place since 1991, and is currently headed by Ban’s Special Representative, Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber. In addition, Ban’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, has also been involved in the mediation process to help resolve the issue.
During the telephone call, Ban also reaffirmed that Ross and Weisbrod-Weber will fulfill their respective mandates promoting the negotiating process and encouraging further improvement of Moroccan-Algerian relations.—www.shafaqna.com/English
Source: Bikyamasr
