Feminists petition Turkish ministers to protest abortion ban

Thousands of feminists and activists sent a petition to several Turkish ministries yesterday to protest against a bill that would ban abortions beyond the first six weeks of pregnancy.

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ISTANBUL // Thousands of feminists and activists sent a petition to several Turkish ministries yesterday to protest against a bill that would ban abortions beyond the first six weeks of pregnancy.

"To prohibit abortion or introduce limits making it de facto impossible violates women's right to health and life," reads the petition, signed by 55,000 people and 900 organisations.

The legislation proposed by the ruling Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party would require all abortions to take place between the fourth and sixth weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 10.