Abortion bill gets approval in Iran

[democratic]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/2692277

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press

TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran's conservative-dominated Parliament approved a draft bill Tuesday that would allow abortion in the first four months of pregnancy if the woman's life is in danger or the fetus is malformed.

Before the vote, top lawmakers secured the support of Islamic religious leaders in Qom, an important step aimed at deflating some of the controversy the measure could stir in this highly religious society.

"Under the bill, abortion is allowed for two purposes: one to protect the life of mother and the other if the fetus is malformed," lawmaker Ali Baghbanian said in Parliament. The session was broadcast live on Tehran radio.

The bill does not allow abortions for unwanted pregnancies.

"Islamic Sharia (law) has not allowed other cases of abortion, such as for social and economic reasons," Baghbanian said.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[MattNC]

1. for the love of Allah

please let this country democratize on its own as it's doing with small but important examples such as this one.

[democratic]

2. New Parliament

Unlikely. Although they make concessions they also step up police raids - moral vice operations and aggressively crush any opposition voice in the country.

Iran's politics is stranger than politics in the state of Georgia. 8)!

[middleeast_org]

13. It's so arrogant to say "unlikely"

How can you say it's "unlikely" they will ever democratize on their own? Based on what do you make that claim? Are you some sort of expert in middle-eastern history and culture and religion? The only reason Iranian became so hardline in the first place is because of American and British intervention in their domestic policies. If the west left Iran alone in the 50s and allowed them to use their oil revenues to develop their own state, rather then texas, the Islamic revolution in Iran would never have happened in 1979. The problem in Iran is American, not the sheiks. Just leave them alone.

www.middleeast.org

[quaoar]

3. How low have we sunk

When religious extremists in Iran are more enlightened than religious extremists in America?

[democratic]

4. How low?

Real ------------------> low.

[fr3]

5. Yes, you see it clearly

Yet here they can't see as clearly as you can.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi fr3!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[David Zephyr]

14. Yep.

:thumbsup:

[Rose Siding]

6. Good!

I hope many women's lives are saved.

[lostnfound]

7. Two words: Depleted uranium.

I hope they keep stats.

[BayCityProgressive]

8. Bush will want to invade even more now!

[Moderator]

9. democratic44

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.

DU Moderator

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. Oh so this is why they are in the 'axis of evil'

only whacko fundies would agree with Bush.

Good God it sounds like a real civilzed country wanting to improve itself.

[tom_paine]

12. What's the difference between the Iranian Mullahs and the Amerikan Bushevk

Mullahs again?

Both hate abortion.

Both hate gays.

Both are fundamentalists.

Anyone? Is there a difference beyond the fact that they practice different kinds of fundamentalism, but the saem in the fundamentalist aspect?

[struggle4progress]

15. Even the reactionary mullahs realize that abortion may be ...

appropriate to save the life of the mother. Meanwhile, many US Repubs don't even support such a medical reason ...