World: Abortion is allowed in UAE, its law is more liberal than nine states of America

World: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is moving toward allowing abortion in cases of rape and incest, and as a result the Islamic country’s abortion laws may be more liberal than those of nine US states. Ever since the US Supreme Court eliminated federal constitutional protections for abortion in 2022, 14 states have banned medical termination of pregnancy in almost all circumstances. In contrast, the UAE Cabinet has approved a proposal allowing abortion in cases of rape and incest, provided the incident is reported immediately, and the procedure is performed within 120 days of pregnancy. According to a report by healthcare research nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), nine of the 14 US states – Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas – do not even allow abortion in cases of rape or incest. Compared to the recent changes in the Arab nation in this regard, many US states maintain tight restrictions on abortion. Let’s take a look at the states and their provisions. Arizona: Abortion is banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. A near-total ban may remain in effect for a short time until the state’s 1864 abortion law is repealed. Mississippi:

Abortion restrictions have exceptions for rape and incest, but reporting to law enforcement is required.

Idaho: Six-week and total abortion bans include exceptions for rape and incest, which in a total ban only apply during the first trimester, and assaults must be reported to law enforcement. Indiana: Total abortion ban allows exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. North Dakota: Abortion in the case of rape or incest applies up to six weeks of pregnancy. West Virginia: Total ban includes exceptions for rape and incest, allowing abortions up to eight weeks for adults and 14 weeks for minors, with mandatory reporting to law enforcement. UAE’s major reforms on abortion rights The UAE’s Cabinet Resolution No. (44) of 2024, attached to the Medical Liability Law, states that abortion is permitted “if the pregnancy is the result of sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, without her consent or without sufficient will” and “if the person causing the pregnancy is a forefather of the woman or her mahram [विवाह के लिए अयोग्य] The development was reported by The National, the UAE’s state-owned English-language daily. It said the resolution will come into effect once it is announced in the UAE’s official gazette. Dr Paul Bosio, chief medical officer at Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said the new cabinet resolution would be implemented.

The aim is to maintain the health and safety of women and society and this is an important positive development. “The proposal now includes pregnancies through coercion, illegal consent or incestuous relationships as possible indications, with the mother being given full consent and authority to request the procedure,” he was quoted as saying by The National.

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