Ibrahim Raisi described the abortion statistics in Iran as "high and concerning" and called for "action" from the government and the judiciary to prevent it. Speaking on Saturday, May 18, he also stated, "Young girls and boys must know that unauthorized abortion is considered murder from a religious perspective," and further demanded clarity on its social impacts. While the president has called for stricter measures in this regard, in Bahman 1402, the Attorney General issued a directive to create "special branches" to handle abortion cases in cities with high prevalence. In Khordad 1401, the Minister of Health also issued a directive for the "preservation and care of healthy fetuses," criminalizing participation in or assisting abortion, with heavy penalties. Sixteen human rights organizations have called for an end to "restrictive fertility policies" in Iran. According to ISNA news agency, Raisi, speaking at an event titled "National Youth Population Award," implicitly acknowledged the impact of economic problems on marriage statistics, but added that attention must be paid to a "culture of contentment." He also remarked, "When we tell someone to get married, they ask about the economic situation, but the miracle of the Quran is that anyone who marries does not end up in a worse situation after marriage than before." Since coming to power, Raisi's government has, under the pretext of the "Youth Population Law" enacted in Aban 1401, not only opposed abortion and labeled it "illegal," but also imposed restrictions on prenatal screening. In response to criticism regarding the elimination of mandatory screening, the Ministry of Health stated that based on Article 53 of this law, the examination of chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses will be "standardized" and "targeted," and will be implemented on an "optional" basis. Screening refers to a series of tests conducted in the early months of pregnancy to assess the fetus for infectious diseases, Down syndrome, genetic defects, and physical abnormalities. In reaction to the approval and announcement of the "Youth Population Law" in Iran, UN human rights experts stated that the Islamic Republic, aiming to increase birth rates, uses criminal laws to force many women and girls to continue unwanted pregnancies, which is "discriminatory." Sixteen human rights organizations also issued a statement on May 10, urging the global community and human rights activists to unite in condemning "restrictive sexual and fertility policies" in Iran and to call for the repeal of discriminatory laws through diplomatic channels. The declining population growth rate in Iran is a concern for the government and specifically for the Supreme Leader, who has repeatedly described population control policies as "mistaken."
Ibrahim Raisi Expresses Concern Over High Abortion Rates in Iran
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi has expressed concern over high abortion rates, calling for government action to address the issue. He emphasized the religious implications of unauthorized abortions and acknowledged economic factors affecting marriage rates. This reflects ongoing tensions between government policies and human rights advocacy in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
President Ibrahim Raisi expressed concern over high abortion rates in Iran, calling for government action to address the issue. He emphasized the religious implications of unauthorized abortions while acknowledging economic factors affecting marriage rates.
- Raisi's government has enacted the 'Youth Population Law' which criminalizes abortion and imposes restrictions on prenatal screening.
- Sixteen human rights organizations have condemned Iran's restrictive fertility policies and called for international support.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has seen declining birth rates, prompting the government to implement restrictive reproductive policies, which have drawn criticism from human rights advocates.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%