Members of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) are expected to meet today to discuss the controversial topic of abortion, in order to possibly put forward recommendations on a way forward to the Government.
There have been fervent calls to legalise the procedure in recent months, especially in light of the Zika virus which has the potential to affect pregnancies. Continuing research has linked the virus to microcephaly, which can lead to defects in unborn children.
Head of the IRO, Br Harripersad Maharaj, said yesterday that his members would also be discussing other key topics, but abortion was high on the agenda.
Despite statements by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that abortion was against the law in T&T, Maharaj said there was a general consensus that this should be allowed in certain circumstances, including that of rape, incest and where the mother’s life was at risk. But he said the foetus must not be older than 12 weeks.
Maharaj also described as “nonsensical” calls for women to refrain from getting pregnant in light of Zika, saying people must instead be more cautious. The core of the issue, he said, was for society to create a value system where life was respected.
“Some people are saying it’s the woman’s body so she could decide, then it wouldn’t be long from now where we are going to have mass murders,” Maharaj said.
“The time is going to come where people are certainly going to say I have the right to commit abortion and it’s really going to be a society where there are no morals or spiritual or human value...there would no longer be fear of God and life would therefore be totally deteriorated.”
Also contacted on the issue, Santana Dharma Maha Sabha head Sat Maharaj said while his organisation did not support abortion per say, it could be permitted where the life of the mother was in danger or if it was medically proven that the child would be born with deformities, as in instances of microcephaly associated with Zika.
“We prefer to save the life of the mother rather than having them go to the backstreet abortionist, because in Trinidad a lot of people are going to backstreet abortionist and their life could be in further danger,” Maharaj said.
In cases of incest and rape, however, his organisation would not support permitting abortion, as these were instances where the mother’s life was not at risk.
President of the Anjuman Sunnat ul Jammat Association (ASJA) Yacob Ali said abortion would not be welcomed by the Muslim community. But he said if the mother’s life was in danger it could be considered.