Abortion in Saudi Arabia

{{short description|none}}

Abortion in Saudi Arabia is only legal in cases of risk to a woman’s life, fetal impairment, or to protect her physical and mental health.Maffi, I., & Tønnessen, L. (2019). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6927385/ The Limits of the Law: Abortion in the Middle East and North Africa]. Health and Human Rights, 21(2), 1–6. Pregnancy arising from incest or rape also qualifies for a legal abortion under the mental health exemption.{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1628427/saudi-arabias-abortion-laws-are-more-forgiving-than-alabamas/|title=Saudi Arabia's abortion laws are more forgiving than Alabama's|last=Livni|first=Ephrat|website=Quartz|date=25 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}}{{Cite web |author1=Irene Maffi |author2=Liv Tønnessen |date=2019-12-09|title=EDITORIAL The Limits of the Law: Abortion in the Middle East and North Africa|url=https://www.hhrjournal.org/2019/12/editorial-the-limits-of-the-law-abortion-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Health and Human Rights|language=en-us}} The fetus must be less than four months old, and if older, requires a panel of approved specialists to declare that the pregnancy will result in the death of the woman or serious damage to her health.{{Cite book|last1=Toebes|first1=Brigit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HzNwBAAAQBAJ|title=The Right to Health: A Multi-Country Study of Law, Policy and Practice|last2=Ferguson|first2=Rhonda|last3=Markovic|first3=Milan M.|last4=Nnamuchi|first4=Obiajulu|date=2014-09-05|publisher=Springer|isbn=9789462650145|language=en}} Any approved abortion requires consent from three physicians as well as the patient and her partner.{{cite book|url=https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/theme/policy/AbortionPoliciesAGlobalReview2002_Vol3.PDF|title=Abortion Policies: Oman to Zimbabwe|date=2002|publisher=United Nations Publications|isbn=9211513650|access-date=10 May 2022}} If an abortion is performed on a woman for any other reason, the violator may be required to pay blood money to the unborn child's family. Laws explicitly deny abortion to families who fear financial instability or an inability to provide the child with education. The selling of pills which can cause an abortion is illegal and can result in arrest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/world/man-arrested-for-selling-abortion-pills-in-saudi-arabia-triggering-debate/ar-BBOecdt|title=Man arrested for selling abortion pills in Saudi Arabia, triggering debate|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2019-06-25}}

According to the US-based Centre for Reproductive Studies, Saudi Arabia's abortion laws are {{Cite web |title=Abortion Hospital in UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Doha |url=https://drrupaliabortioncentre.com/international/abortion-hospital-in-uae-dubai-abu-dhabi-riyadh-jeddah-and-doha/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Best Abortion Centre in South Delhi {{!}} Abortion in India |language=en-US}} relatively more permissive compared to other countries of the Middle East and North Africa regions.{{Cite news |date=25 June 2022 |title=Greater abortion access in Saudi Arabia than in over ten US states after Roe v Wade repeal |pages=2 |work=The New Arab |url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/greater-abortion-access-saudi-arabia-us-states |access-date=26 June 2022}}{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2024-02-07 |title=Level 2 Ultrasound - Importance in your Pregnancy Journey |url=https://www.drrupalidiagnostics.com/pregnancy-journey-level-2-ultrasound-for-second-trimester/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=4D Colour Ultrasound in South Delhi {{!}} Dr Rupali's Medical & Diagnostic |language=en-US}}