Morocco’s Abortion Ban Faces Scrutiny as Illegal Procedures Surge

The French daily "Le Monde", which has investigated the subject, recalls that abortion is only allowed in Morocco if the life of the pregnant woman is in danger. All those who engage in it, disregarding this formal criterion, are subject to the rigor of the law which provides for imprisonment.

Nevertheless, the Moroccan Association against Clandestine Abortion (AMLAC) claims that between "500 to 800 terminations of pregnancy are illegally practiced every day in the Kingdom." These abortions, it points out, are mostly carried out by "herbalists" or "angel makers" or even "under the cloak, in clinics and in private gynecology offices." A certainly worrying picture, which informs, in many ways, about the difficult management of the phenomenon by the public authorities.

Gynecologist Touria Skalli, a deputy of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), seems to confirm the phenomenon. According to her, "due to the lack of official statistics, it is difficult to give figures" on the issue. The PPS MP says she is carrying a bill on "medically assisted termination of pregnancy" (IMG), authorized in case of rape, incest, mental disability or very serious fetal malformation. However, she laments, this proposal is still blocked in Parliament. According to the MP and specialist on the issue, "maternal mortality or complications are not uncommon, linked as they are to uterine injuries, internal bleeding or infections due to artisanal methods, cheaper than a medical abortion." Proof, perhaps, of the urgency of the issue.

According to "Le Monde", 4,000 dirhams, or the equivalent of 644 euros, would be enough for an abortion by aspiration in one of these gynecology offices, which build their reputation, in total secrecy, through "word of mouth." The daily cites the testimony of Meriem, a young Moroccan woman shocked by this price outside of consultation.

Chafik Chraïbi is a gynecologist. Founder of AMLAC and a long-time activist for the legalization of voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP), he specifies that most abortions in Morocco are done by aspiration and not by medication, unlike countries where it is legal. "Doctors prefer aspiration, which brings in more money and ensures they have removed the embryo," he explains.

For another anonymous gynecologist, the extent of the abortion phenomenon is due to the lack of knowledge of young women about contraceptive methods. However, she also insists on sex education.