In the pro-life country of Morocco, King Mohammed VI has ordered that laws banning abortion be amended to allow it in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities and situations where the health of the mother is at risk.
In a statement from the North African kingdom, the justice minister, religious affairs minister and the head of the state human rights organization said that most people in Morocco support abortion in rare circumstances. They said, “Their consultations showed that a vast majority of society is for the criminalization of abortion with the exception of a few cases that would have negative medical, psychological and social repercussions on the woman, fetus, family and society.”
However, according to Bloomberg News, the ministers shared different opinions about the matter before King Mohammed VI made his announcement. Justice Minister Jaouad Ghassal said, “The committee will first look at what French, Turkish and Belgian legislation says, then at Islamic law, and finally check with the reality on the ground before issuing any recommendations. The abortion law “could be made less stringent.”
The Health Minister of Morocco, Lahcen Ouardi, was a little more hesitant. He said, “As a doctor and a government minister, I say it’s not reasonable to keep” the existing laws. Doctors, legislators and clerics must sit and talk.”
With the exception of Tunisia, where abortion is legal, the practice is highly restricted across the region, with occasional exceptions made for rape, incest or fetal malformations.
Despite the law, abortion is widespread in Morocco, with non-governmental organizations estimating that 600-800 illegal abortions are performed daily. Bearing a child out of wedlock in a conservative society like Morocco brings shame upon a woman and her family, resulting in women turning to abortion or abandoning infants.
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The calls for reform were sparked in December when Dr. Chafik Chraibi, head of obstetrics at Rabat’s Maternity hospital, was fired after he condemned the laws that forced abortion underground. His firing led to a debate among intellectuals and political party leaders, culminating in Chraibi’s reinstatement and the king’s launching of a committee in March to reform the law.
Some reform advocates had called for a much wider access to abortion to stem the recourse to illegal procedures.
Although some pro-abortion activists argue that it’s cruel to make women who’ve become pregnant as a result of rape carry their child to term, there are countless stories of women who’ve done so and have no regrets. In fact, studies show that 75%-85% of rape victims refuse abortion because they believe it’s morally wrong.
For example, LifeNews recently shared the story of a teenager who became pregnant after rape when she was only 14-years-old. Crystal Blount was a cheerful, church-going virgin when a guy assaulted her from her high school. Initially, she was planning on having an abortion because her father was pressuring her but then God told her that her daughter was innocent and deserved life.
She explained, “I heard God tell me that her blood was innocent, and to take his hand. I asked my Dad to stop the car and said I didn’t know what I would do (keep the baby or adoption), but that I would accept the task of carrying the child until she was born — to choose LIFE for her. I felt overcome with a duty to protect this helpless life growing inside me. I had seen her heartbeat. I knew instantly in that car, that it wasn’t her fault, no matter who fathered her; even if he had just been a deadbeat dad. I knew then it was my duty and God would somehow give me the strength to bring her into the world.”
Crystal placed her daughter for adoption and now she’s 16-years-old. Remarkably, her daughter is also close with Crystal’s father, who tried to make her have an abortion. She concluded, “My immediate family is great and we became stronger after that trial. In fact, my parents have now been married 32 years, despite that really trying time for our family. My dad has since apologized to me, and said he is so very grateful I chose to trust God instead of trying to please him, because he loves his grand-daughter so much!
My daughter knows she is a gift from God. I tell her every chance I get. She looks just like ME, and when I see her smile, I see how good God is and how he took this bad experience and made it beautiful!”
