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