By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
MADRID, February 3, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Police expelled fifteen pro-life demonstrators who were peacefully protesting against a European Union “human rights” meeting yesterday at the Reina Sofia museum in the Spanish capital.
The protesters, who carried signs showing images of unborn children at 13 weeks of gestation with the question “What about my rights?”, were forced to submit identifications and to leave the area, despite being within their legal rights, according to the Spanish pro-life website HazteOir (“Make yourself heard”).
HazteOir and other outlets have reported that thirty police were sent to round up, identify, and expel the protesters, who were simply standing silently in front of the museum, despite the fact that they were apparently within their rights to demonstrate.
Ignacio Arsuaga, HazteOir's president, denounced the “humiliating political treatment given to a group of peaceful people, only for the fact of showing the European ministers how Rodriguez Zapatero treats the right to life in Spain.”
Spain's President Zapatero has supported the passage of legislation to allow abortion on demand during the first 14 weeks in Spain.
“The intimidation and nervousness of the Government will not frighten the majority of Spaniards who oppose the abortion law,” said Asuaga. “Zapatero needs to get used to protests like the one next March 7, because this unjust law will be his political downfall.”
The protesters included members of the organization “Right to Life,” which is a subsidiary of HazteOir, and Spain's Physicians for Life.
HazteOir says it is investigating the legality of the action.