On abortion

On abortion

From Warta Kota

The people's representatives are deliberating amending the
Bill (23/1992) on health. One of the issues is abortion, in the
context of the high mortality rate among mothers in Indonesia.

In this regard and against this backdrop it is opined that
abortion needs to be legalized. This notion sounds like a noble
idea which is concerned about mothers' health. But in reality it
is not the case.

Among other reasons for abortions are presumably the following
cases: Unwanted pregnancy, the effects of promiscuity, and rapes.
If these problems have become facts of life, why don't we try to
eliminate the causes.

Islamic sharia law says that abortion can be performed only
when the fetus' age -- conceived in mother's womb -- is less 40
or 42 days. Because in that case the fetus is still perceived as
only a lump of human flesh (mutfah).

After that period abortion is regarded as haram -- forbidden
according to Islamic law.

ANDINI SARI
Jakarta