The Joint Committee of Health and Children held a session on Thursday 10thJanuary 2012 at the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) discussing the proposal of legislation to provide abortion in Ireland.
Dr Ali Selim of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland presented on behalf of Sheikh Hussain Halawa, Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, the Muslim submission on the issue. Included in Sheikh Halawa’s testimony was:
Islam significantly values human life. Although Maternal Health Care should strive to obtain the best possible outcome for both mother and foetus, abortion could be conducted as the last and only alternative to protect the mother’s life. This permission is based on the principle of the lesser of the two evils. In this case one is confronted with two forbidden things: either abort the unborn foetus or let a living woman die. Obviously, the latter is of greater importance than the former; therefore, abortion is allowed to save the mother.
Abortion is regarded as a lesser evil in this case because:
• The mother is the 'originator' of the foetus.
• The mother's life is well-established.
• The mother has duties and responsibilities.
• The mother is part of a family.
• Allowing the mother to die would also kill the foetus in most cases.
Nonetheless that the mother threatens to committee suicide is a claim that cannot be deemed as a ground to on the basis of which abortion can be conducted. The experience of pregnancy and delivery is hard and could lead to depression. The Qur’an recognizes this fact and promises mothers great rewards. The government should think of social and economic means to terminate the grounds of suicide but certainly not on the expenses of others’ lives otherwise it would be saving a human being by killing another. Women who have been victims of rape deserve due sympathy and help. But a child conceived in this unfortunate situation still has the right to live.
You can view more details here: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=22588&&CatID=127.
