The Strategist

Iran sets up paramilitary patrol to combat abortions



06/08/2023 - 03:32



A pregnancy can only be legally ended in Iran if the mother's life is in danger or if the fetus is found to have genetic problems, according to the country's Ministry of Health, which has announced formation of a special paramilitary patrol to combat unlawful abortions.



Ninara
Ninara
A special "abortion patrol" made up of paramilitary Basij volunteers has been established in Iran to combat unauthorized abortions, reports The Telegraph.

Women in Iran are currently only permitted to have an abortion if the fetus is discovered to have genetic abnormalities or if the pregnancy poses a threat to the mother's or the unborn child's life. It is unlawful to end a pregnancy in other situations. According to The Telegraph, severe regulations push Iranian women to travel abroad or use covert clinics in order to have the procedure.

Saber Jabari Farouji, a representative of the Iranian Ministry of Health, made the decision to deploy "abortion patrol" squads on the streets. The patrols, according to the publication, have the power to keep an eye on locals who go to medical facilities, stop them from leaving the nation, or demand information about their whereabouts. The official claims that women who want to end a pregnancy will be "severely punished" and that medical professionals whose actions violate the law will have their licenses revoked.

source: telegraph.co.uk