Massive demonstrations in Prague see pro-life march meet counter-protests

Thousands of people have gathered in central Prague on April 11, as anti-abortion activists and their opponents staged a series of overlapping demonstrations across the city.

Organizers of the annual March for Life have altered the format of this year’s event, dividing it into dozens of smaller processions. The change comes after disruptions during last year’s march, when protesters blocked parts of the route, as Czech media outlets reported.

According to organizers from the Movement for Life, the event was intended to show support for women facing unplanned pregnancies. Attendance was estimated to reach around 5,000 participants, with protestors starting the march in the lower section of Wenceslas Square near Na Můstku and Vodičkova Street.

In response to the movement, several counter-demonstrations were planned to take place in parallel. A protest titled “Prague is Feminist,” focused on women’s rights at Republic Square, overlapping with sections of the march routes. Another human rights rally was to take place at Hradčany Square, with officials designating a separate area to prevent direct contact between groups.

Police have been preparing a large-scale security operation, with hundreds of officers, including reinforcements from other regions, deployed across the city center. Specialized anti-conflict units have also been stationed to be on standby to help defuse tensions and prevent escalation.

Authorities say the split-format march has complicated operational planning. Police spokeswoman Eva Kropáčová noted that such an arrangement has not been used before, requiring real-time adjustments to deployment and coordination.

By Nazrin Sadigova