Three countries where abortion is legal in the Middle East and North Africa
Abortion is illegal in much of the region, and there are various legal and societal barriers to the practice in the countries where it is allowed.
A document leaked in the United States yesterday purportedly indicating that the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision, which determined that abortion is a constitutional right. The news prompted some comparisons of US abortion laws to those in the Middle East. Abortion is illegal in most of the region and North Africa unless the pregnancy is a risk to the mother’s health or there is a fetal abnormality. However, here are the three countries where abortion is allowed.
Israel
Abortion is sometimes legal but significantly restricted in Israel. Women who want to have an abortion in Israel must receive approval from a “pregnancy termination board.” Abortions must meet at least one of the following criteria, per the Israeli Ministry of Health.
- The woman is under 18 years of age or over 40.
- The pregnancy is a result of unlawful sexual intercourse, such as rape or incest.
- The pregnancy could endanger the mother’s life or cause physical or psychological harm.
- The mother is not married or got pregnant outside of marriage.
- The fetus may have a physical or mental defect.
Members of parliament from the left-wing Meretz Party have recently pushed for reforms that would give more of the decision-making power on abortion to women. Some religious parliamentarians have voiced opposition to these efforts, The Times of Israel reported in January.
