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| File picture of Savita Halappanavar from Irish Times |
This is one serious topic that i have been contemplating for a long time. The tragic death of Dr Savita Halappanavar in Ireland has intimidated the long burning rage. Who would have thought the Irish laws leaned heavily on religion- Christianity? The Catholic Church is anti- abortion and the Irish law is entirely based on it. The lawmakers are yet to wake from their stupor. Abortion laws differ from country to country, majority of them making it 'legal on request'. Few states require parental consent in case of minors, but in case of clinically injurious pregnancies, a request by the mother would suffice.
God has given equal rights of life for everyone and that includes unborn fetus too. True. But does not the mother have the right to live? Why do women have to move from country to country to have an abortion done? The law forbids them from aborting their child in their homeland and so they move to other countries that permit! In case of Ireland, pregnant women travel all the way to England to abort. How convenient! The other side of the Sea permits you to abort whereas Ireland does not. And don't think the travel is easy- they won't let you leave the country if they know you are pregnant! All this in the name of protecting the religion? The country? The women? Who are we kidding?
We condole the death of Dr Savita. Her death has inspired tens of thousands in Ireland to take to the streets demanding revamp in the sections 58 and 59. There is one more dark nation that forbids abortion and we know nothing of it, not even a stub in wikipedia dares speak of it- Saudi Arabia! The Gulf nation prohibits abortions- again in the name of God! Oh God! Have mercy! There are many hushed cases of botched abortions, scores of deaths due to unethical termination of pregnancies and quacks who make a fortune out of these poor women. Those who have the money and means, travel across the border to neighboring Bahrain where it is permitted to abort a child.
For immigrants and those who have no means, an abortion pill can cost you up to 2000 Saudi Riyals in the black market. There are physicists who stealthily distribute them and there are women who flee the country bleeding profusely after botched abortions. I know of women who were forced to return back to India to have abortions done. Is it not funny we let the Church and Mosques determine the birth or death of a child or that of a mother? It is sheer irony that the religions that respect the life of a child dispose the importance of the life of a mother.
It is high time we set rules and laws on our conscience than some religious laws rule us. But then that is how we have been brought up- to submit to the whims and fancies of the religion and the so called virtues it professes. I sincerely wish the Irish Government wakes up to the Savita tragedy and amends its laws. As for Saudi Arabia, all i can do is feel sorry for the women, including the expats lodged there...
Thank Heavens, the Indian Abortion laws, the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act still holds good, the clauses are clear and the law categorically states that husband has no right over his wife who chooses to terminate her pregnancy on her own. In case of minors, consent of a guardian is sufficient for an abortion. Though sex selective abortions mar the erstwhile women friendly laws, i feel safe and protected in a democratic nation, than the women of the liberated Ireland or conservative Saudi Arabia.
One serious issue, the world should think over... Very well written... ! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Samik. I wish nations address the issue in all sincerity.
DeleteThis is a very sensitive topic C9...i tend to run away from it. It is never a black or white thing...there are many greys.
ReplyDeleteSensitive topic, i agree. I accept there are many greys, but it is high time we set things right...Thanks for the comment.
Delete1. A thoughtful post.
ReplyDelete2.Do Yu have any idea of any such case reported in tat country.. b4 this incident..tat any native IRISH had lost thir live .. due to this..
3.What can a Poor Doc do. whn Laws bind her.. why shud she keep her hands crossed before law?
4.Now as u said exactly.. will any press or any party of India or abroad dare enuf to talk this topic over KSA.. then they will b labelled ANTI-MUSLIMs,.. and will loose .. minority votes .. so Ireland permits these protets.. so the very thing shows their gesture towards givin respect to ppl's opinion and feelings?
5.so we can by all means hope.. ireland to make necessary amendments..in mean time..(aft they put it in thier parliamnt)
6.what was done by our Indian embassy in IRELAND , whn this incidnt took place?
7.Fortunately .. in india we dont feel any prob reg this as.. so we cn feel proud tat.. " we ar leading the world " atleast in this area..(what else to tll)
Thanks for the post, Kamalika.
Delete1. Yes, serious post
2. Refer to wikipedia's article link, google it. There are many women who suffered due to this.
3. Doctors are supposed to play Gods. ain't they?
4. Lose minority votes...yes, that is the game.Nobody dares to talk about this issue. Irish Govt is playing wait and watch. It also doesn't want a problem with majority Catholic votes!
5.Lets hope for the best.
6. Indian Embassy slept there, as it does in many nations:P
7. True :P
Very sensitive topic and how sad to see such things happening in the name of religion. I could clearly hear the upset in your voice, CN. And I wish its heard by the people involved too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Arti. Yes, it is a sensitive subject and I too hope it gets addressed soon.
DeleteI agree with what you have said.There should be pressure from international human rights body that abortion should not be denied by any country where there is danger to mother's life or where the baby that would be born is likely to be handicapped or deformed.
ReplyDeleteI like your new template.It is very attractive
KP:))) Thanks for your comment. Glad you like the new template.
DeleteI have been following this story for some time. We crib all the time but there are moments when I feel that its a blessing to be an Indian.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Alka. Yes, these are the times we feel better being here:)
DeleteYes indeed, we are lucky to be living in this country, for all its flaws, there are still laws to protect the women. However, even here, we pander to religious minorities which makes the women of those communities vulnerable. But this is not a subject of any debate or reform, thanks to vote bank politics.
ReplyDeleteZephyr!!! Glad to see your comment. Yes, our laws are more women friendly. And I perfectly understand your take on minority women. They are well protected by vote bank politics;)
DeleteRightly said, CN, i agree totally with your views. People should do what is right for them and should not be influenced by mere made religious laws, whose only purpose to keep the fear of God burning in them and just terrorise people .
ReplyDeleteThoughtful post indeed !
ReplyDeleteHumorous human rights will fight for killing a terrorist and robbers, but for innocents they hardly care.
In the name of GOD so many so many awkward and awful activities !
A woman alone should have the right decide whether she plans to go ahead with her pregnancy. Rather have content, happy mothers than women who were forced to accept their destiny.
ReplyDelete