Gibraltar votes on whether to relax strict anti-abortion laws

A woman casts her vote at a polling station during the referendum on abortion (Javier Fergo/AP)

Gibraltar was holding a referendum on Thursday on whether to introduce exceptions to the British territory’s ban on abortion.

Abortion is illegal in Gibraltar, unless it is needed to save the mother’s life. Abortion is legally classified as “child destruction” and is punishable by up to life in prison. It is one of Europe’s most restrictive laws on pregnancy termination.