The topic of abortion in Islam is still controversial and fraught with varying views. In Islam, the idea that “life” begins at conception is not applicable.
Only those who have experienced rape or incestual sex should be able to have an abortion in the United Arab Emirates. According to reports, rape or incest cases need to be reported right away and then verified by a public prosecutor’s report. A new resolution passed by the cabinet allows for abortion “if the woman’s ancestor or one of her mahram [ineligible for marriage] relatives caused the pregnancy or if the pregnancy is the result of intercourse with a female against her will, without her consent, or adequate volition.”
According to the new resolution, the woman’s life cannot be in danger when having an abortion, and the fetus must be less than 120 days (17 weeks) old at the time of the procedure. Once the judgment is published in the Official Gazette, it will take effect.
Current UAE legislation only allows abortions when the mother’s life is in danger or when the fetus has serious defects.
The Penal Code of the Gulf nation stipulates that rape carries a life sentence. If the victim is younger than eighteen or “has a physical disability or suffers from a health condition that renders her unable to resist, or if the perpetrator is one of the victim’s ascendants or non-marriageable relatives,” the criminal may carry the death penalty.
The topic of abortion in Islam is still controversial and fraught with varying views. In Islam, the idea that “life” begins at conception is not applicable.
Abortions are restricted even when the fetus is 120 days old, according to the Islamic idea of “ensoulment.” Even if the fetus is a live entity within the womb before the 120-day mark, it is not regarded as a human being.
More liberal laws than in nine US states
Up to nine US states may have more restrictive abortion legislation than the United Arab Emirates. 14 states have enacted almost complete prohibitions on abortion in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to eliminate federal constitutional protections for the practice.
According to a survey by the nonprofit organization Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), nine of the fourteen states in the United States—Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas—do not allow abortions, not even in situations of rape or incest.
Several US states continue to impose tight abortion restrictions, which pales in comparison to the recent developments that have occurred in the Arabian nation. Let’s examine the states and their regulations.
Arizona: There is a 15-week pregnancy limit on abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
Mississippi: Rape and incest are exempt from the abortion prohibition, however reporting an abortion to the police is still necessary.
Idaho: Only during the first trimester of the whole ban are rape and incest exceptions to the six-week and total abortion prohibitions available, and the assault must be reported to law enforcement.
Indiana: Up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, rape and incest are excepted from the state’s complete abortion prohibition.
North Dakota: Up to six weeks of pregnancy may be terminated in cases of rape or incest.
West Virginia: There are exceptions to the complete ban for rape and incest, and abortion is permitted for up to eight weeks for adults and 14 weeks for children. However, notice to law enforcement is required.
