Women on Waves, a group provides abortions by boat to countries that outlaw the procedure, was banned from stopping at a port in Morocco.
The group had plans to stop at a port in the city of Smir as they claim they were invited by a youth group called Alternative Movement for Individual Freedoms, but Morocco's health ministry said that the group would not be able to come to the country. The ministry says the group never asked for their permission.
Authorities helped to enforce the law and keep the group and its boat from coming to the country, according to the BBC.
The boat was supposed to dock at Smir on Thursday after making a journey from the Netherlands, but authorities blocked off the entire harbor, keeping anyone from entering the port.
It would have been the first time the Dutch ship made landfall in a Muslim country. The group wanted to raise awareness about abortion and the options that are available to the women in Morocco. For instance, an abortion-inducement drug is available to women in Morocco, but many don't know this, the BBC reported.
The group also performs abortion procedures on international waters. They offer the medical procedure to women up to six-and-a-half weeks pregnant.
"I understand that (the visit) is seen as a provocation by some religious groups. But this is about women's health. It has nothing to do with religion," Gomperts, told AFP.
Since abortion is illegal in Morocco, some women resort to using dangerous illegal methods at home. Abortions are punishable up to 20 years. The group says that between 600 and 800 abortions are carried out every day in the country, according to government figures, the BBC notes.
Since the group cannot visit everyone, Women on Waves offers a hotline number for women to get information about abortion and contraception.
Women on Waves has been in operation for 11 years and has visited Roman Catholic countries such as Spain, Portugal and Ireland.
Women for Waves wasn't the only controversial group that was banned from entering the country recently. In July, an all-gay Holland American cruise was banned from visiting the country despite previous confirmations. That also would have been the first cruise of its kind to stop at a Muslim country.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
