Pro-choice activists and anti-abortion Catholics held rival gatherings Saturday morning on Rue du Mont-Blanc in Geneva.
A group of around 80 pro-choice protesters, marched with banners and whistles to defend abortion rights.
They were met by a prayer group, led by Eric Bertinat, a former Swiss People’s Party politician and head of the association ‘Catholic Perspectives’, which promotes prayer events against abortion across Switzerland.
Separated by a police cordon, both sides remained peaceful during the hour-long standoff. Protesters chanted slogans like “Take your rosaries off our ovaries,” while the Catholic group prayed silently.
Abortion in Switzerland has been legal since 2002, following a national vote with over 72% approval.
Protesters expressed concern that recent international developments could embolden local opposition to abortion rights.
Police maintained order, and no incidents were reported.
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