With a rally for "reproductive and sexual self-determination", the Greens protested against the so-called prayer vigils in front of Pro Familia in the Westend.

The members of the state parliament Miriam Dahlke and Martina Feldmayer as well as the parliamentary group leader of the Greens in Römer, Dimitrios Bakakis, called for "consultation without harassment" and an "end of the gauntlet".

This requires nationwide legislation that prohibits abortion opponents from demonstrating in the immediate vicinity of facilities that offer conflict counseling that is mandatory before an abortion.

Matthew Trautsch

Coordination report Rhein-Main.

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For the past five years, Christian fundamentalist opponents of abortion have held vigils lasting several weeks in front of Pro Familia twice a year.

Under the motto "40 days for life", between 5 and 25 participants gather every day on the plateau at the end of Palmengartenstraße, i.e. opposite Pro Familia.

They pray and display posters depicting babies, anti-abortion slogans or the Virgin Mary as the "protector of the unborn".

"Make pregnant women feel bad"

The public order office tried to ban the rally to a place outside the sight and hearing range of the advice center.

The applicant, the “Euro Pro Life” association, defended itself against this in court and was right in several judgments.

Most recently, the Hessian Administrative Court rejected a complaint from the city with reference to the fundamental right to freedom of assembly.

The Greens argue that the legal mandate of the counseling centers to advise pregnant women in conflict situations in an open-ended manner and, if desired, anonymously, is being thwarted by the vigils.

Women and other people seeking help, but also the employees of the advice center felt harassed, said Feldmayer.

The aim of the "so-called life protectors" is to make pregnant women feel guilty and to impair their free decision-making.

Anyone who wants to go to Pro Familia cannot avoid the vigils, even during the deliberations the "murmuring and murmuring" of the praying people can be heard.

Dahlke called the court rulings "unworldly", according to which pregnant women should be expected to ignore the vigils.

It contradicts women's right to self-determination if they have to go to the obligatory consultation with their eyes "downcast".