Blog 4;Honor Killings vs Abortion

http://womennewsnetwork.net/2011/09/16/egypt-abortions-women-violence/

This article has shocking information and insight into Egyptian culture and the Muslim faith. In Egypt, it is illegal to procure an abortion unless you have ample proof that the woman or baby is in grave danger. Consequently, women can be and are killed for becoming pregnant out of wedlock. For many Muslims and people in Egypt, these murders are named “honor killings” because the woman pregnant (or many other things) has shamed the family and when the men of the family kill her, they regain their previous status. When a woman has been the victim of honor killings, the perpetrators receive a judicial slap on the wrist for their actions. However, when a woman receives a chosen abortion, she can receive six months to three years in prison. Many Muslims state that abortions go against Allah’s will and many religious figures are also political leaders.
In America, two percent of women 15-54 have abortions, in Egypt it is about 14 percent. Since chosen abortions are illegal and can have immense consequences, women in Egypt who do decide on abortions are at risk for infection and even death due to complications from unsanitary abortions or because they are performed by unqualified people.
Since the Egyptian government is in dishevels now and facing new leaders in 2012, women are pushing for more rights and that they are specified in their constitution.

The issue of religious leaders affecting political sectors is detrimental to lives, and especially womens’ lives in Egypt. Whether they are victims of honor killings, or are imprisoned for having an illegal abortion. Islam is the prevailing religion in Egypt and therefore its’ ideologies rub off into everyday life and culture. This creates insane issues because those political leaders who are also big proponents of Islam interpret laws in accordance to the Qur’an’s scriptures. Abortion is seen as interfering with Allah’s will, and this is the law of the land for the most part. Having a separation of church and state is ideal and necessary for issues like this.
Problems with sanitation once a woman decides to obtain an illegal abortion are horrific too. Since they are done illegally, the codes and sanitation are not the most important issue to the woman or the doctor who is making money. Women are faced with the option to possibly die of an honor killing or to possibly get sick, be injured, or die from an abortion. This would be a horrendous and traumatic thing to have to face when you know you have no political stance in your country.
If the Egypt and the world allows abortions to continue to be illegal, many more women will die because of being pregnant and die because of unsafe abortions. Although the Islamic faith is vital to the Egyptians culture, the interpreted values are becoming detrimental to Egyptian women.