UK politicians lobby Malta with “misleading” abortion statements

Posted: Mon, 5th Dec 2022

UK politicians lobby Malta with “misleading” abortion statements

The National Secular Society has criticised an attempt by UK politicians to stop Malta easing abortion restrictions as "misleading and dangerous".

According to Times of Malta a group of UK MPs and peers have lobbied Malta not to permit abortion even in cases where a woman's health could be in "serious danger".

A letter to Malta's prime minister Robert Abela, signed by twenty parliamentarians, expressed "extreme concern" at the plans.

Malta has one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the world. It is the only country in the European Union to prohibit abortion entirely.

It is estimated between 300 and 400 Maltese women travel abroad to have abortions each year, mostly to the UK (about 60%).

But the country recently unveiled legislative amendments that would allow doctors to perform an abortion if they believe the woman continuing the pregnancy "may put her life at risk or her health in grave jeopardy".

The amendments were proposed after American tourist Andrea Prudente was denied a life-saving termination of a non-viable pregnancy while on holiday in Malta, despite bleeding profusely.

Bishops add signatures to anti-abortion letter

The letter, whose signatories include bishop of Carlisle James Newcome and former archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, claims the proposed wording would "introduce abortion on demand" and open the "floodgates to abortion in Malta".

The letter cites the implementation of Britain's Abortion Act as evidence for this claim: "In 1967 our Parliament passed the Abortion Act and included very similar language".

There are only two sections of the Abortion Act that contain very similar language to the Maltese bill.

The first allows for abortion when "the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman".

The second allows for abortion when "the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated".

Of the 214,869 abortions performed in England and Wales in 2021, these sections were invoked in only 111 cases (0.0005% of cases).

The NSS said this means it is "inaccurate" to claim that the sections of Abortion Act that use "similar language" to the Maltese Bill have led to "abortion on demand".

NSS: "Appalling" that UK parliamentarians are lobbying to prevent reforms that would save women's lives

NSS campaigns officer Dr Alejandro Sanchez said: "This letter is shocking.

"It is appalling enough that UK parliamentarians are trying to keep Malta's draconian abortion laws – some of the strictest in the world – from reforms that would save women's lives.

"But what's truly outrageous is the scaremongering false comparisons between the UK's abortion laws and Malta's proposed amendments.

"Saying that ending pregnancies which could put a woman's life at risk or her health in grave jeopardy leads to abortion on demand is misleading and dangerous.

"If Malta retains its complete abortion ban, it could prove fatal to women."

The letter was reportedly signed by Lord Alton of Liverpool, Baroness Hollins, Lord Morrow, Martin Vickers MP, Lord McCrea of Magherafelt & Cookstown, Baroness O'Loan, Fiona Bruce MP, Bob Blackman MP, Lord Farmer, Baroness Cox, Lord McColl of Dulwich, Lord Carey, Lord Loomba CBE, Baroness Prashar, Lord Hylton, Lord Hay of Ballyore, Baroness Stroud, Lord Bishop of Carlisle, The Earl of Dundee, Lord Curry.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

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