Geneva: demonstrators disrupt an anti-SIVG rally

Fists raised against brandish rosaries. Slogans and whistles against the silence of prayers. This Saturday morning, rue du Mont-Blanc was the scene of a peaceful confrontation between a group of Catholics opposed to the voluntary pregnancy interruption (IVG) and demonstrators who came to defend this right. For an hour, the latter challenged the former, separated by a police cord.

The gathering of Catholics was organized by Eric Bertinat, ex-municipal advisor and former Genevois UDC deputy, and his association Catholic Perspectives. “We have been organizing such an action for many years, on the model of the concept” Ja Zum Kind “(yes to the child). The goal is to pray together for children to be born and for those who will never be born. ”

“Ja Zum Kind”, developed by a German religious, aims to “testify against the guilty indifference of our society which agrees to kill its own children, gifts of God”, can be read on its site. And calls Christians “convinced of the need to protect life” to organized rallies from April to December in various cities “to pray and encourage all those concerned to refrain from aborting”.

“Remove your rosaries from our ovaries!”

On social networks and the Geneva site Overturnedcalls for dispute quickly spread to defend abortion, “a prerequisite for public health and a fundamental right”, as well as to oppose “fascists, reactions and the extreme right”.

Saturday at 10:45 am, nearly 80 have answered the call, including activists from feminist collectives, LGBTIQA+associations, some men too. The protest procession reaches the top of rue du Mont-Blanc to the sound of pans, whistles and slogans. Opposite, the Christian group is already installed. A cord of around thirty cantonal police officers interrupts the advance of the demonstrators. The street has turned into one no man’s land; They can no longer move forward, but they can stay. And that is enough for them. They then deploy their arsenal of banners – “Take your rosaries from our ovaries!”, “A baby is a choice, abortion is a right!”.

“Fundamental freedoms attacked”

Whistle on the palate, Françoise, 68, lives back from Amers Souvenirs. “I participated in the mobilizations of the 70s. When I see today that this right right obtained (Editor’s note: in 2002, the population accepted more than 72% to decriminalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy) is today questioned everywhere – to name only the UNITED STATES – And that even in Switzerland, there are people who dare to attack him, it makes me very angry. ”

And to add: “To abort is always a difficult choice, women must be able to do it in good conditions. It is a fundamental right to have our body. “

The younger generations responded “to avoid any turning back and the annihilation of decades of feminist struggles”, confides about twenty -year -old. “These Catholics have the right to have opinions,” concedes Cécilia, 20. But if they do not keep them in their churches and they disseminate them on public space, then we must come and show off and show that fundamental freedoms will not be flouted. ”

Inner prayer

In the camp opposite, the Christian banners disgruate the offensive: “This little body in your body is not your body”, “abortion, interruption of an annoying life”. The forties of Catholics, including abbots and children brandishing rosaries, from various cantons and France, do not cille in the face of invective.

Only the lips move, betraying the recitation of a prayer. However, the state councilor responsible for security, Carole-Anne Kast, told us the day before that the organizers had obtained the authorization to come together, “but obviously not to pray in public space, the law on secularism prohibits it. We reminded them on Friday. ” On site, when we mention this ban, we are told that prayer is interior and not publicly proclaimed …

“It amounts to killing a human being”

Asked about his convictions, Pierre-Alexandre, a Geneva Catholic, justifies them as follows: “According to our principles, as soon as there is a fertilization of an egg, a soul is created, it is a human being. Killing it is therefore similar to a crime. ” A young Fribourgeois adds that abortion leads to physical and mental suffering for women and that alternatives should be proposed to him, “as reinforced social assistance”, and that the father who abandoned him should be condemned.

What about abortion in the case of rape? “It would amount to killing a child who did nothing,” replied Pierre-Alexandre. If we respect the aforementioned principles, we cannot accept any abortion. ”

Eric Bertinat notes that this is the first time that their action has triggered so much dispute. Almost an hour after the start of mobilizations, the Christian group distributes some brochures and withdrew. Opposite, we disperse in calm. The police confirm that no overflow is to be deplored.

Aurélie Toninato is a journalist at the Geneva section since 2010 and a graduate of the Academy of Journalism and the Media. After having covered the education field, she is now responsible for health related questions.More info

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