Abortion Politics in Iran

[donsu]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_04/006128.php

ABORTION POLITICS IN IRAN....I'm surprised that this hasn't been commented upon more widely:

The Iranian parliament has voted to liberalise the country's abortion laws.

Under the law approved on Tuesday, a pregnancy can be terminated in the first four months if the foetus is mentally or physically handicapped.

Both parents must give their consent and three doctors to confirm that the foetus is damaged.

The law was approved by just over half of the conservative-dominated parliament, and still has to be approved by the Guardian Council.

The council is an unelected supervisory committee which vets all bills to see if they are in line with Islamic law.

Previously, abortion was only allowed if the mother's life was proven to be in danger.
Middle East Online reported that illegal abortions are rising rapidly in the Islamic Republic to the tune of at least 80,000 per year.

According to Scott Peterson of the Christian Science Monitor, moreover, Iran is loosening its social strictures across the board as it seeks to accomodate its youth bulge.
-snip-
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there are some interesting comments at the end of this article

[rodeodance]

1. more reason for BushCo NOT to like Iran (they are not part of his cult on

life project.

[Warpy]

2. There's a movie out there called "The Circle"

I think it's about 10 years old, and it follows women who don't quite fit in to the Islamic Republic's feminine ideal (to say the least). The film is unsentimental to the point of being downright harrowing, and I recommend it highly.

One character is a girl who finds herself pregnant and unmarried, and needs to have her father's consent for a safe abortion. If she goes to her father for consent, he is likely to kill her for shaming the family.

That the Iranian government allowed this film at all is amazing. It's available on DVD in Farsi with English subtitles. If you haven't seen it, try to rent it.

[DrDebug]

3. Iran more liberal than the United States?

INVADE IT NOW! :sarcasm: