Croatians hold ant-abortion protests in major cities

Nearly 20,000 people have staged anti-abortion protests in two major cities of Croatia, following a landmark ruling by the country’s constitutional court which rejects calls to ban the procedure.

According to the police and local media, the "March for Life" on Saturday drew some 15,000 people in the capital Zagreb and up to 5,000 participants in the country's second largest city of Split.

The protesters carried banners reading "Chose Life" and "Life is always a Gift," sang religious songs and waved Croatian flags.

The aim of the demonstrations was to "draw attention to respect of every human life from conception to natural death,” the organizers said.

In response, dozens of counter-protesters also took to the streets, with some hanging a banner in central Zagreb that said “March for Life stamps on women's rights."

Police pushed back and arrested nearly a dozen women's rights activists who tried to block the demonstration in Zagreb.

The issue has turned into a bone of contention in the Roman Catholic EU nation. Rights activists warn that some groups backed by the church have increasingly resorted to pressure to threaten the right to abortion.

Under a law dating back to 1978, abortion is legal until the 10th week of pregnancy.

In March, the Croatian constitutional court rejected calls to ban abortion, but it ordered parliament to adopt new legislation within the next two years, ruling that the current law is outdated.

Activists warn that parliament may pass a rather restrictive law that would make abortion difficult to access.

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