A German federal court has
settled a battle of several months over whether pro-life demonstrators
could use the term "Babycaust" to refer to abortion, according to an
article in todays "Telegraph." The dispute arose when protesters handed
out flyers in front of an abortionist's office refering to the "murder
of children in their mothers' wombs." The slogan was "Holocaust then,
Babycaust now."
Hospital authorities sued to ban such language and won, but yesterday's
ruling overturned this. The judgment was made on the basis of the
protesters' right to free speech, because the leaflets "expressed the
opinions of the authors that today's practice of abortion is a mass
extermination of life."
The judges also said that such demonstrations are "a contribution to
opinion-forming in a matter that is fundamental and moving to the public
in which we have to deal with the protection of living rights of the
unborn."
German feminists and pro-abortion groups were predictably displeased
with the decision. Dr. Anja Klauk of the Feminist Party stated, "This
verdict brands women as murderers. It is outrageous that the court
should have reached this decision."
While abortion is technically illegal in Germany, the consultation
center system makes it very easy to have an abortion without fear of
prosecution.
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