Home>News Center>Life
         
 

Abortion trial in Portugal suspended
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-09 14:50

The trial of three women accused of violating the staunchly Roman Catholic nation's strict rules against abortion was suspended again after a defense lawyer complained the judge was biased.

The trial which got under way last June, resumed only at the end of last month after an eight-month suspension following a defense motion to remove presiding judge Maria de Conceicao Miranda, which ultimately failed.

Public prosecutors in the industrial city of Setubal, just south of Lisbon, have charged two young women who had abortions as well as a nurse who allegedly carried out the procedures in exchange for around 400 euros (515 dollars).

Pro-choice demonstrators demand changes to the law that forbids abortion, outside the court in Setubal. The trial of three women accused of violating Portugal's strict rules against abortion was suspended again after a defense lawyer complained the judge was biased.(AFP/File/Francisco Leong)
Pro-choice demonstrators demand changes to the law that forbids abortion, outside the court in Setubal. The trial of three women accused of violating Portugal's strict rules against abortion was suspended again after a defense lawyer complained the judge was biased. [AFP/File]
Abortion is banned in Portugal except in cases involving rape or where there are serious health concerns.

Pedro Delille, the lawyer for the nurse, said he was convinced his client could not receive a fair trial after the judge made a clearly biased statement.

According to the lawyer the judge stated during one of the hearings that people who "devote themselves to such crimes are generally seeking financial gain."

Several dozen opponents of liberalizing Portugal's strict abortion law demonstrated outside the court on Friday.

Defense lawyers have also unsuccessfully sought to have the trial suspended until after a new referendum on Portugal's abortion laws, expected sometime next year, is held.

Portugal's new socialist government has promised to hold a fresh vote on the abortion laws but has not yet set a date for the referendum.

Polls have shown that most Portuguese are in favor of loosening the nation's abortion laws, which are among the strictest in Europe.

In a 1998 referendum the Portuguese rejected by a whisker a proposal to allow abortion on demand during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Nearly seven out of 10 voters stayed away from the poll.

Several trials of women accused of having had an abortion held in recent years have resulted in acquittals, with judges usually invoking insufficient evidence for their ruling.

The number of back-alley abortions annually in Portugal is estimated at between about 20,000 and 40,000, while thousands more go abroad to terminate unwanted pregnancies.



Has the deceased Pope been embalmed?
Cameron Diaz takes a tumble
Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton boozing again
  Today's Top News     Top Life News
 

US, China to hold regular senior-level talks

 

   
 

Sri Lanka visit to upgrade partnership

 

   
 

Britain admits Iraq intelligence was wrong

 

   
 

People stage anti-Japanese rally in Beijing

 

   
 

Nation steels itself against further price hikes

 

   
 

Protests planned 2 years after Baghdad fell

 

   
  Charles, Camilla finally tie knot after 35 years
   
  Man says Jackson improperly touched Culkin
   
  High carb diets may raise breast cancer risk
   
  Beijing women most confident about bodies: survey
   
  Gay US soldier wants to serve openly
   
  Jackson performs oral sex on boy: Guard
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Morning-after pills banned at Shenzhen pharmacies
   
Lawmakers call on ban of fetus sex selection
   
China to outlaw sex-selective abortions
  Feature  
  1/3 Chinese youth condone premarital sex  
Advertisement