Home abortions soar in Iraq as unwanted pregnancies rise (Telegraph UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main

No matter what side you come down on in the abortion debate, this is just sad. Wonder how the fundies will react to this story.

All the more reason to bomb the babies, as well as the unborn.

Tragic story. Thanks for posting it, maxrandb.

Are the number of abortions related to pregnacies from rape by foreign invaders? It would be a dishonor for a Muslim to conceive a child from rape by a non-Muslim.

Are the number of abortions related to pregnacies from rape by foreign invaders? It would be a dishonor for a Muslim to conceive a child from rape by a non-Muslim.

...if the right-to-lifers ever get their way.

I read that Iraqi pregnant women were going in notable numbers to hospitals before the invasion to have their labor induced and the birth completed before the bombing--the logic being that they would rather have a born baby,even if it were premature, rather than give birth during a bombing. :-(

On edit, the second link in the thread worked. More than 500 abortions--and increased reports of sepsis.

They will stick their fingers in their ears and scream LA LA LA LA LA until the next episode of Joe Millionaire comes on.

-Dr Hazim said many women have been raped or compelled to prostitute themselves after the war.

"Women didn't know where their husbands were. They needed money to feed their families, or they had relatives and neighbours who took advantage. There was an increase in the sexual activities of the women in Iraq."

Prostitution has become widespread in Baghdad since the end of the war, a number of brothels have opened and several areas now function as red-light districts, particularly Al-Bataween Street. Under Saddam, women found working as prostitutes were liable to be executed - although well-connected pimps regularly provided girls for the corrupt Ba'ath Party ruling class.

One "madam" explained: "Most of my girls are from the countryside. They are not well educated so the money is good for them and it is quite safe because the Iraqi police now protect us."-

Yep! Winning of hearts and minds, all is going well in EyeRack, look at the capitalism blooming (sarcasm off)

Free to work at prostitutes, get STD's, AIDS, pregnant, raped, etc. Sickening.

These people don't need birth control or sex education, they need Jeeeeezus. </fundy>

I'm surprised this affected me like this.

I am absolutely livid that women are forced to live like this. We are the occupiers and we should be doing everything we can to provide medical services to ALL the Iraqis. We cannot impose any sort of moral code on them. These women need help NOW!

I'm old enough to remember the US prior to Roe v. Wade and I remember what women had to go through then. I know of back-room abortions and botched surgeries.

This is dreadful and I'm so sorry that we, the US and George's Army, have forced this on the women of Iraq. Remember, Iraqi women weren't suffering under Sadaam like the women were in Afghanistan.

Edited for spelling.

...thanks to our illustrious Congress, the United States is forbidden from promoting safe abortions, even in poor countries where young women are literally dying in the streets. Aren't you proud to be Amurkin?

The question being:

Will it be Muslim or Christian brand?

Either way, the women suffer.

Thats really shitty

of sepsis following a back-room abortion. Yes, I remember those days, too.

He has never exhibited a sense of responsibility connected to his role as occupier. Obviously any man who refers to his own wife as a "lump" and his National Security advisor as an "unsticker" is incapable of having much respect toward women and their rights anywhere, much less be concerned about the cultural nuances involved in these women's lives.

An organization will spring into place that will help deal with the pregnacies and resulting adoptions. Birth control and abortions won't be available from said organization, though. Also said organization will make quite a tidy profit. :( Just my 2 c.

their culture.

1. Some of these women won't live long enough to bear a child. (honor killings)
2. I doubt Iraqis would be really happy to turn their children over to the Americans who many see as an enemy.

There is just so much shame associated with a woman's sexuality and what they view as promiscuous behavior that I doubt the stigma will loosen any time soon.

I was using my very faulty crystal ball.Romania,Ceausescu and the revolution came to mind. The Iraqis are/have been so villified, I don't really see it happening for that reason also. What a mess. :(

to sleep intheir crib...it tore my heart out. Any time I see children/people needlessly suffer around the world it upsets me...all this money for bombs but none for taking care of the living.

And the whistle ass is off pushing his faith-based initiatives! He pisses me off so badly I can't stand it!

I can remember the days before Roe vs. Wade very, very well. The sad truth is that men make the decisions, and women suffer the consequences. Women had more freedom under Saddam, as horrible as he was, they had more freedom than other women in the Mideast.

There are no words to describe the loathing I feel for Bush and his cabal, and the harm they are causing worldwide.

Saying, "The increase in prostitution, pornography and unwanted pregnancies is a sign of the progress we are making". Or Dumsfeld "freedom isn't always pretty"

Sick

Nice. Real nice.

worse because the fundamentalists will talk about how the "infidels"s are corrupting their women....destroying their honor..etc...

A true exchange of culture