The secret abortions in Afghanistan

KABUL (SW): Abortion is a phenomenon which has crossed the minds of almost all woman at least once in their lives. Abortion is illegal in many Islamic countries and is considered inhumane in many western countries as well.

Though, feminist movements in the West, to some extent, managed to amend certain laws regarding the right to become a mother or not, but here in Afghanistan even talking about it is considered as a taboo.

Abortion in Afghanistan is illegal under any circumstances and that is why apart from other problems it can psychologically affect women and force them to isolation and seclusion.

Samana is a woman who has had an abortion here in the capital Kabul. In a conversation with Salam Watandar, she said that she did not go for abortion because she could not care for her child or she got pregnant out of extra marital relationship but because she just got divorced and that she could not bear with the society the embarrassment.

She said that she had no idea about pregnancy or abortion and found about it on Google.

“I got the pills for my abortion from one of my friends who had brought them from Pakistan. It was around 8 or 9 in the night when I took the pills. Before taking the pills, I did not know I would bleed immensely. Bleeding started and continued until 5 in the morning. Once it sopped, I went to see a doctor. I pretended having my period so that to cover the issue of my abortion.” She said.

She added that abortion was the most horrible experience she went through. She was not worried about the psychological impacts of the experience or the religious aspects attached to it but she was concerned that that she did something against humanity. Something like committing a murder.

This tale is a small part of sufferings and miseries Afghan women continue to experience.

Based on unofficial figures, tens of Afghan mothers across the provinces face similar situation. Many experience insult and embarrassment. These mothers in one hand have to deal with the psychological pressures of the abortion and on the other hand have to bear with the burdens of the social values.

Female doctors in the country whom these mothers see to discuss their abortion with are also the ones who have conservative views on abortion themselves.

Salam Watandar’s reporter asked a female doctor at a private hospital about a girl who had relationship with a boy, the doctor said that we force the girl to convince the boy to marry her.

Now the questions are that if that boy is not willing to marry her, what is the solution? Is it the solution for the girl to choose between death and abortion? Who can help such victims?

Humaira Saqib, a civil society activist, said that the government should legalize abortion. She said that if the delivery is threatening mother’s life or if the mother doesn’t want to deliver a baby because of social or economic problems, there should be options for abortion.

It is religious beliefs and values, which prevent doctors to help mothers with their abortion.

Another doctor who also works at a private hospital said that women decide to have abortion for many reasons like having extra marital relationship, avoiding to have more children or having economic problems but the reason why doctors don’t help such mothers is because abortion is illegal in Islam.

Shabnam Sima, a women rights activist, believed that the problem is not only religious aspects of the abortion, which is enshrined as a crime in the Constitution but religious scholars’ views differ on this subject.

She added that a woman who is pregnant based on her wish or not should have the right to choose between delivery and abortion but unfortunately Afghanistan’s laws are not ready for such issues yet.

It is not clear how long laws in Afghanistan will continue to keep quite on such secret pains of women but what is clear that secret abortions will continue to exist.

ENDS