Maltese take to the streets to protest abortion

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Malta's capital Valetta on Sunday afternoon. They did so in response to a call of pro-life organisations Life Network Foundation and Doctors for Life, and I See Life, Times of Malta reports. The crowd chanted "No to abortion, yes to life" and marched from Castille towards the law courts.

Malta liberalises abortion a little

17-11-2022

Several prominent Maltese people were present at the rally. Among them was former president Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who led the protest and marched along with the demonstrators. Furthermore, archbishop Charles Scicluna and Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech were present.

Coleiro Preca said in a speech that the amendment lacks clarity. "It is not putting our mind at rest that abortion will not enter our country", she stated. The former president called on the government to discuss the amendment with experts and stakeholders. Furthermore, she urged the media to "reflect the rights of the mother and the child without a voice." That is reported by Malta Today. Coleira Preca stressed that she and her husband believe that "life is a fundamental right for everyone" and that they "believe that this right is supreme, both for the born and for those yet to be born."

Mandate

On Saturday, the Nationalist Party asserted that Prime Minister Robert Abela, who introduced the proposal to amend the abortion law, does not have the mandate to do so. The party called Abela to withdraw the bill. Party leader Bernard Grech, also present at the rally on Sunday, said that the amendment introduced abortion through the backdoor, Malta Today reports. "Robert Abela should stop trying to impose a law that introduces abortion in our country, knowing that the majority of the Maltese and Gozitan people are against the introduction of abortion in our country", the statement of the party read.

Killing

Also, Maltese Catholic bishops speak out against a possible amendment to the abortion law. Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmy, and Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma say that mothers should be supported but not at the expense of human life, Malta Today writes. The amendment states that health is a valid reason for the termination of pregnancy. According to the bishops, this brings along the risk that the amendment will allow terminations in situations where "it is not the mother's life that is in danger, but her health." They argue that this means health can be safeguarded by killing a human life. "This means abortion."

The bishops point out that Maltese doctors already do their best to save mother and baby and that, if they fail, they prioritise the mother's health. "There was no need for the law to be changed for the mother to be saved when in danger of dying."

Support

Psychiatrists argue that, if physical illnesses are considered a valid reason for abortion, mental health issues should be too, Malta Today reports. The Malta Psychiatry Association says that people cannot be truly healthy if not all their "major systems function appropriately."

More than 100 academics support the abortion amendment. They signed a petition set up in response to another petition that opposed the bill. The latter was signed by 81, the former by 105 academics.

Also, more than 100 Members of the European Parliament showed their support for the proposed liberalisation of the Maltese abortion ban. They wrote a letter to the Maltese government. "By amending legislation, Malta is taking a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting the fundamental rights of women and medical practitioners", the MEPs write. According to them, this is an essential step in Malta and Europe's history.