An opposition deputy has submitted a parliamentary question regarding allegations of a de facto ban on elective abortions in the southeastern Diyarbakır city.
The parliamentary action from Adalet Kaya, the People's Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party deputy, follows a report by Gazete Duvar, revealing that most public and private hospitals in Diyarbakır do not perform elective abortions, despite this being a legal right in Turkey.
The report detailed that out of 11 public hospitals in Diyarbakır, nine have an outright ban on abortions, and the remaining two only perform the procedure if the pregnancy poses a health risk and the husband consents. In some cases, hospital staff have cited religious reasons for the ban, with one hospital secretary quoted as saying, "Our doctor will not bear the sin and responsibility of such an act."
In response to these findings, Kaya directed several questions to Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, asking for the reason for the de facto abortion ban and numbers of accepted and rejected abortion applications.
Kaya also questioned whether the ban in Diyarbakır hospitals was a result of local authorities' initiatives or if the Health Ministry had given such an instruction.
Abortion rights in Turkey
Under the Population Planning Law No. 2827, women in Turkey have the right to terminate pregnancies within the first 10 weeks without providing any medical or personal justification. Both public and private hospitals are obliged to respect this right.
In case the woman is married, her husband’s consent is also required for abortion. In cases where pregnancy threatens a woman's physical or mental health, the doctor is supposed to prioritize the woman's well-being and proceed with the abortion, even if the woman is married and her husband’s consent is not available.
If the pregnancy poses a significant threat to the woman’s health or the health of the unborn baby, there is no time limit for an abortion. If the pregnancy is a result of rape, an abortion can be performed up to 20 weeks.
Permission from parents is required for the abortion of those younger than 18.
(EMK/VK)
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