Approximately 600,000 Unauthorized Abortions Performed Annually in Iran

Unauthorized abortion in Iran occurs 2,000 times daily, with statistics indicating approximately one-third of all births in the country. Spontaneous abortions are tens of times more frequent than therapeutic abortions. Meanwhile, birth rates continue to decline steadily, and mandatory childbearing policies have failed to move forward.

Kabri Khazaeli, head of Iran’s Women’s Social Council, has reported high abortion statistics in Iran.

Tasnim News Agency reported on August 25, citing Khazaeli: “We face uncontrolled and unchecked abortions; according to statements by the deputy and acting minister of health, 600,000 unauthorized abortions are performed annually in the country, meaning 2,000 abortions daily.”

She criticized the lack of oversight in this area and stated that “there are influential individuals in middle management of the Ministry of Health who prevent population-related circulars from being implemented and overshadow the efforts of devoted personnel in this organization.”

Kabri Khazaeli also criticized the screening program during pregnancy, saying: “In the past decade, screening of pregnant mothers in the country has increased remarkably. This is while no change has occurred in the statistics of people with disabilities in the country; in this regard, doctors who do not recommend abortion are pressured and their cases are taken to court.”

According to her, these doctors “must either perform abortion or refer mothers to other departments to pursue abortion procedures leading to therapeutic abortion, otherwise the doctor will be punished with paying all the child’s expenses.”

Kabri Khazaeli referred to the fertility increase program that the leader of the Islamic Republic has repeatedly emphasized for years and ordered its implementation. However, neither the government has resources to fund such a program, nor are employment and welfare facilities available for it, nor is the young generation inclined to listen to it.

According to the head of the Women’s Social Council, “in the sixth development plan, it was supposed that our fertility rate would reach 2.5 children, but currently this indicator is facing a decline and is close to 1.7 children. This means that since the beginning of the sixth plan, our fertility rate has declined.” In other words, population reduction orders and policies remain in place as before, with “the difference that their names have changed, such as optimal spacing and maternal and child health.”

“Elective” Abortion Tens of Times More Than Therapeutic Abortions

Khalil Ali Mohammadzadeh, cited by Tasnim newspaper as a “national population award winner,” referred to some factors regarding the declining fertility rate in Iran. Including “urbanization, population control policies, economic difficulties, inattention to various needs of young people in marriage and family formation, and most importantly significant changes in cultural perspective and lifestyle.”

Mohammadzadeh stated that Iran is among the first three countries in the world rapidly heading toward population aging, and if no solution is found in the next two decades, a record will be set for Iran that no country will easily be able to break; only with higher birth rates can the percentage of aging growth in society be reduced.”

According to this physician, abortion in Iran is so widespread that “it should be addressed as a fundamental problem.” He also referred to elective abortions and stated that their number is “tens of times therapeutic abortions.” He accused women who resort to “selective” abortion of “disregarding human, religious, legal, and health matters, carrying out ‘killing of a soul’ through non-physicians and unauthorized centers. They and their accomplices commit a forbidden act according to religious authorities’ rulings.”

He stated that “elective abortions occur outside of convention, law, and religious standards, and unfortunately this category of abortions is tens of times more prevalent in society than therapeutic abortions, and no deterrent oversight is conducted by relevant authorities.”

Five Percent Mortality, 20 Percent Disability

The issue of abortion in many non-democratic countries, particularly those whose governments are steeped in religious inclinations, is a major problem for women. Women’s right over their own bodies and whether or not to become mothers is completely ignored, and decision-making in this matter is left to lawmakers. This is not limited to countries like Iran. In some European countries, including Poland, abortion laws are made very difficult for women. Donald Trump and Republicans in America are, like many conservative leaders, staunch opponents of abortion.

In countries where this right has been taken from women, women are forced to resort to centers where abortion is performed “illegally,” not necessarily under the best health standards. Centers where women’s health and lives are seriously endangered.

On the fifth of Mordad, “Eqtesad 24” reported, citing Mohammad Baqer Larijani, educational deputy of the health minister, that according to the latest statistics in 1396 (2017), between 300,000 to 500,000 illegal abortions are performed annually in Iran. This means that according to official health ministry statistics, approximately 1,000 fetuses are “killed by parents daily, of which only about 10 cases are legal.”

According to this report, this type of abortion causes death in 5 percent of mothers, causes disability in 20 percent of mothers, and in some cases results in complete removal of the uterus.

Abortion Statistics Higher Than Traffic Accidents

The statistics of traffic accidents and road casualties in Iran are very high. Nevertheless, Iranian media have reported that approximately 800,000 traffic accidents occur annually in Iran, resulting in 43 deaths daily. 18,000 deaths in road accidents annually has placed Iran statistically among the highest road fatalities in the world. However, health ministry data shows that in Iran “20 times more abortions than deaths from traffic accidents occur annually.”

Eqtesad 24 called this “a human tragedy” and wrote, “Research data indicates that under current conditions, abortion statistics equal approximately one-third of the country’s total birth statistics of 1,196,000. According to the data, the statistics show that the number of abortions is equivalent to approximately one-third of the 1,196,000 births nationwide.

Source: DW