A Health Ministry Official Reports at Least 1,000 Abortions Registered Daily

The head of the 'Youth Population' center at the Ministry of Health announced in a television program that 'at least 1,000 cases' of abortion are performed daily in Iran. Saber Jabari Farouji also stated that according to the World Health Organization, in 2024, 'more than 200,000 abortions or fetal killings occur daily worldwide, amounting to 7.3 million annually, which is a significant number.' On Saturday, August 6, the head of the 'Youth Population, Family Health, and Schools' center also announced the formation of the 'Nafas Group' to combat abortion in 250 counties in Iran. Jabari Farouji mentioned that the Nafas Group was established with the support of the Medical Basij in Mashhad, and its expansion to 250 counties has prevented 4,700 abortions. He identified the main reasons for abortion as reluctance to have more children, economic factors, and unintended pregnancies. The issue of childbirth and population growth is a primary concern for the leaders of the Islamic Republic, and with Ali Khamenei's repeated emphasis on this matter, the enforcement of punitive measures against any form of birth control and abortion has intensified since July 2022. Pressure on the public to impose Khamenei's policies continues, as Ibrahim Raisi, before his death, stated at the second 'National Youth Population Award' ceremony on May 18, 'The abortion statistics are alarming and must be stopped.' Some critics believe that the emphasis on Khamenei's policies and their coercive implementation in society occurs while there is minimal attention to the people's livelihood issues. This group cites the record of double-digit inflation over the past five years and inflation rates exceeding 40% for several consecutive years. Currently, inflation remains around 40%, creating a significant gap between the minimum wage and the poverty line in the country. The Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, which is considered the government's research arm, has reported in multiple studies that up to five deciles of society are experiencing housing poverty, predicting that more than 30% of the population lives below the poverty line. The prohibition of abortion is at the center of discussions in election campaigns in the United States, and there is a possibility of increased penalties for abortion in Brazil, where men and women have taken to the streets in protest. Raisi stated, 'The abortion statistics are alarming; it must be stopped.' According to an official, the Islamic Republic has formed groups to combat abortion in 250 counties. A former health minister of the Islamic Republic stated that restrictive screening laws will increase the number of disabled newborns. The deprivation of Iranian women of basic human rights has raised alarms from human rights organizations regarding the 'violation of reproductive rights' in Iran. A social science researcher noted that 'more than a quarter' of Iranian adolescents begin sexual relations at the age of 15. The Attorney General has called for 'intensified' action against abortion.