Turkish feminists decry bid to ban abortion
June 06, 2012
Feminist groups in Turkey have reacted violently against the news that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to repeal the country’s law that allows abortion through the 10th week of pregnancy.
Erdogan has denounced abortion as a form of murder, and added that the practice has kept Turkey’s population low, thereby stunting the nation’s growth. But feminist critics say that his campaign against abortion is a part of a broader plan to satisfy restive Muslim groups. Erdogan is engaged in “a blatant Islamization” of Turkey, which was established by Kemal Ataturk as an avowedly secular state.
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Further information:
- Turkey, women against Erdogan, "no" to ban on abortion (AnsaMed)
- Turkish premier: 'I see abortion as murder' (CWN, 5/29)
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