[Brussels, 25 June 2012] EWL members in Turkey are celebrating the decision by Turkey’s conservative government to drop plans for a controversial bill that would have slashed the time limit for abortions. Abortion has been legal in Turkey since 1983.
The legislation initially proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would have required all abortions to take place within the first six weeks of pregnancy, down from the 10 weeks currently allowed.
Women’s rights activists said the limit would have effectively outlawed abortions, since most women do not realise they are pregnant until around the sixth week of pregnancy.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had sparked outrage last month when he likened abortion to murder.
Women’s organisations in Turkey, including the EWL Coordination in Turkey, launched a big campaign nationally and internationally under the headline ‘Say No to the Abortion Ban’ and issued a protest letter.
Thousands of women and activists staged demonstrations throughout the country in protest of the planned measures.
