Spanish abortion clinics strike over "harassment"

Jan 8, 2008, 10:30 GMT

Madrid - Spanish abortion clinics were Tuesday launching a nationwide strike in protest against what they described as administrative harassment and to demand the full legalization of abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Most of the country's abortion clinics were expected to join the unprecedented week-long strike, which was to force some 2,000 women to postpone their abortions.

The clinics say they have been submitted to an unnecessary number of administrative inspections since the detention in November of the head and two employees of a chain of Barcelona abortion clinics.

The clinics in question are suspected of carrying out abortions illegally even in the final months of pregnancy. Two Madrid clinics were also closed over alleged administrative irregularities.

Employees of Madrid abortion clinics have received death threats, and minor attacks have been reported against clinics by 'pro-life' activists.

'We are seeking guarantees for the right of women to abort,' said Francisca Garcia of the abortion clinics' association Acai.

The voluntary termination of pregnancy is still a crime in Spain. It is allowed only in cases of rape, serious malformation of the foetus and danger to the mother's physical or psychological health. The latter reason is the reason given in nearly all cases.

Nearly all of Spain's annual 100,000 abortions are carried out at private clinics.

Women's associations, trade unions and other organizations request the legalization of early abortions without having to give any reason for the procedure, as happens in several other European countries.

The legalization would allow women to cover abortion costs through their social security payments, the organizations argue.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist government, however, has not included the liberalization of abortion among its campaign themes for the March parliamentary elections, mainly because of strong opposition from Spain's Catholic Church.