Watch: Huge Pro-Life Protest In Valletta As Estimated 20,000 Protest Against Abortion Law
Several thousands of people took to the streets of Valletta this afternoon to protest against a bill that they warn could legalise abortion by stealth.
Protestors gathered at Castille Square and placed a huge poster of a newborn baby on the steps leading up to the Prime Minister’s office.
“Viva l-ħajja, le għall-abort (long live life, no to abortion),” the protestors chanted as people from all walks of life filled the square.
The protest then moved to Republic Street, where speeches were delivered by former President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, former EU Commissioner Tonio Borg, retired judge Giovanni Bonello, Irish MP Carol Nolan, Life Network CEO Miriam Sciberras, I See Life activist Maria Formosa and doctors Nicola Micallef Stafrace and Veronica Bartolo.
Life Network Foundation, which organised the protest, estimated the turnout at around 20,000 people, which would make it one of the largest protests in recent Maltese history.
The bill clarifies that doctors can terminate pregnancies in cases when the mother’s life or health is in danger. However, it has proven controversial given its vague legal definition of “health”, which critics warn could open the backdoor to abortion.
Although the government has repeatedly stressed that this is not the case, the bill has clearly struck a nerve with large segments of the Maltese public.
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“I haven’t attended a protest since the 80s but I couldn’t miss this one,” one demonstrator said.
The greatest chunk of the Labour Party’s weekly political rally this morning was dedicated to discussing the bill, with both Prime Minister Robert Abela and PL President Ramona Attard largely playing down the backlash to it as moves by “reactionary conservative forces”.
Did you attend the protest this afternoon?
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