Controversy Over Abortion Rights for Rape Victims in Egypt

A draft bill introduced in the Egyptian Parliament that would allow rape victims to have abortions has met with controversy. The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights (ECWR) states that every hour, two women are raped in Egypt, according to the AFP.

Critics of the legislation say it fails to address the real issue, the Gulf News reports. "In the first place, this bill deals with the aftermath of the crime, but not the crime itself," Fawzia Abdul Sattar, a professor of criminal law told the Gulf News.

At present, Egyptian law bans abortion unless it is on the "grounds of necessity," ie when the woman's life or health is at risk, or if there are fetal abnormalities, the AFP reports.

Media Resources: Media Sources: Gulf News 01/01/08; Brisbane Times/ AFP 12/31/07

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