‘Middle way’ sought for abortion

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Protests against the governments abortion ban initiative continue, while the Health Minister says they will find a ‘middle way’. DHA photo

The government will find a “middle way” between a woman’s right to have an abortion and a baby’s right to live, Health Minister Recep Akdağ has said.

As the fierce debate on a possible abortion ban in Turkey continues, Akdağ said society should be at ease, referring to the draft prepared by his ministry.

“Our entire nation should be sure that we will find a middle way to ensure society’s conscience, a woman’s right to decide, and a babies’ right to life. As we, the AKP government, did before on controversial issues, we will figure this problem out by reaching a compromise,” Akdağ said.

Report being prepared
He added that the Ministry of Health was working together on a draft report with a number of scientists, the Ministry of Family and Social Policies and the Ministry of Justice. This report will be presented to the prime minister next week.

Population planning is an outdated notion, Akdağ said. “The world has shelved this notion. Reproductive health replaced it. Primarily, women’s health then babies’ health is important. This is how we see look at the issue.”

Meanwhile the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu has said the “abortion issue in Turkey has turned into overrated polemics.”

İhsanoğlu, who was paying a visit to Tataristan’s capital Kazan, was asked about the abortion debate in Turkey and said he did not want to enter into the discussion, which had already been debated more than enough.