Iran Approves Abortions Before Four Months Gestation if Woman's Life at Risk, Fetus Malformed

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 15 Apr 2005 - 11:00 PDT

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Iran's parliament on Tuesday approved 127-90 legislation that would allow a pregnant woman to obtain a legal abortion before four months gestation if her life is "in danger" or if "the fetus is mentally or physically handicapped,..." AFP/Daily Star reports. Under the bill, the pregnant woman and her partner would have to consent to the abortion, and three doctors, as well as the coroner's office, would have to agree that the woman's life is at risk or that the fetus is malformed. Under Iranian law, women who undergo abortion and whoever carries out the procedure can be sentenced to three to 10 years in prison and fined. According to local press reports, at least 80,000 illegal abortions are carried out in the country each year. None of the 13 women members of parliament took part in the debate on the measure (AFP/Daily Star, 4/12). In order to become law, the bill must be approved by the Guardian Council, an unelected committee that reviews all bills to see if they are "in line with Islamic law," BBC News reports (Harrison, BBC News, 4/12). The council is made up of six Islamic clerics and six attorneys, Reuters reports.

Reaction
Some opponents of the measure argued that the legislation would be open to "abuse" by people seeking abortion, but the legislation considers punishment for abuses of the bill, according to the IRNA News Agency, Reuters reports (Reuters, 4/12). "We do not intend to give permission to kill an innocent person, but the birth of certain deformed children inflicts huge costs on the country, causing psychological trauma to themselves and the families," Noureddin Pirmoazen of the parliamentary health commission said. Some members of parliament questioned the need to legalize abortion of malformed fetuses. "We must respect the right to live," Mahmood Madani, a member of parliament, said, adding, "There are many families who happily take care of their handicapped children" (AFP/Daily Star, 4/12).

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