Epidemic of illegal abortions in Iran leads some to consider change in law

Conservatives skeptical of claims that making abortion illegal would lead to many dangerous, illegal ones may want to read this article from AFP:

"A booming business in backstreet abortions has pushed Iran's religious conservatives to consider changing the law, which was supposed to have protected the lives of mothers.

For women wishing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, there are two options: prove that the child is putting their own life in danger, or otherwise join tens of thousands who go through dangerous illegal procedures...

According to local press reports, at least 80,000 illegal abortions are carried out every year. But some believe the real figure could be far higher. "

The report goes on to say that currently lawmakers are only considering a proposal to allow abortions in cases where the fetus has been diagnosed with a handicap, but further analysis shows there is ground for allowing more leinance within the religous-political arena.

"...the current debate over abortion revolves around the question of when a fetus develops a soul. There is still division over this question, although some prominent clerics have put the time at four to six months... one top cleric, Grand Ayatollah Yousef Sanei has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, stating that 'abortion is allowed before four months of gestation, and if the mother suffers a psychological burden caused by unwanted pregnancy, the fetus is handicapped or the mother's life is in danger.'

I am by no means endorsing the Iranians' view on abortion. It is required for those that are pregnant out of wedlock, raped, etc. Choice works both ways, and much of their reasoning is much different than abortion rights advocates here. However, I do find it interesting that a culture dominated by religious conservatives - where this hard-line religious point-of-view is actually written into their constitution - is more practical and socially mindful than many here in the United States. Recently, the State House of South Dakota moved a bill out of committee that will put in place in SD what is the current Iranian abortion law (should Roe ever be overturned).