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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lara Villalon in Istanbul

Legal, yet virtually banned: Turkish women denied right to free, safe abortions

Abortion Istanbul Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Nurse
Protesters march with placards against Recep Tayyip Erdogğan’s proposed 2012 bill to restrict abortion to the first six weeks of pregnancy
A 2012 protest against plans to restrict abortion to the first six weeks of pregnancy. Although not made law, abortions are increasingly hard to access. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters

When Esra*, a 27-year-old from Istanbul fell pregnant by mistake, she knew she had no choice but to get an abortion.

Abortion is legal on request in Turkey to all women up to the 10th week of pregnancy, and up to the 20th week for medical reasons. According to the law, it should be done in any public hospital for free.

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