LISBON, September 7, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Portuguese court has backed the government’s decision to ban the Dutch abortion boat, Women on Waves, from entry into the country’s sovereign waters.
While docked at a Spanish port for food and fuel over the weekend, two Dutch politicians, members of the ruling coalition, also embarked. The pro-abortion activist politicians were busy criticizing the Portuguese decision to continue their embargo. Although the court, located in the central town of Coimbra, rejected the ship’s bid to enter Portuguese waters, it did rule that abortion activists on board were free to come ashore and engage in an abortion debate. Portuguese women’s groups had launched a court challenge of the government’s decision to prohibit the boat’s access to port. The confrontation between the Portuguese government and the ship, the Borndiep, began when the boat was refused permission to enter Portugal’s territorial waters on August 28. Women on Waves founder, abortionist Rebecca Gomperts, said her organization would not be put off by Portugal’s prohibition—they will publish their abortion information for Portuguese women to read on-line. Women on Waves was established to challenge the pro-life policies of regions where abortion continues to be illegal. It carries out RU-486 chemical abortions on women in international waters. The boat sailed to Ireland in 2001 and to Poland last year. Read Thursday’s LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Dutch Politicians Urge Portugal to Allow Abortion Ship https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/sep/04090203.html tv