User:Gabrielladh/Abortion in Qatar

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In Qatar, abortion is typically prohibited and only authorized under particular conditions stated in Qatar's Penal Code. The legal framework permits abortions in situations where the pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk to the mother or when the embryo possesses a condition that renders life beyond the womb unfeasible. Qatar's religious, cultural, and legal environments have shaped the development of abortion and Islamic principles substantially influence Qatar's legal system and social norms.

Islamic teachings and values have historically influenced attitudes toward women's gender roles and social norms, including their beliefs on abortion. Traditionally, Qatari women are expected to be the homemakers and child-carers. However, in recent years, Qatar has emerged as a global hub and has undergone vast structural and social modernization. Qatari women have been at the forefront of change, and there have been significant strides in the women's rights movement, such as women's access to education and their role in the workforce. The evolution of women's rights in Qatar amidst its rapid modernization, juxtaposed with traditional values, presents a complex landscape where progress and tradition intersect.

Qatar's approach to governance, social policies, and legal frameworks shows a blend of traditional Islamic values with a degree of openness and pragmatism that distinguishes it from other Muslim-majority countries. This balance has contributed to Qatar being perceived as relatively more liberal in certain respects than neighboring Islamic countries in the region. Even though abortion in Qatar is highly restrictive and requires consent from male guardians and medical staff, Qatar permitting abortion highlights the liberalization and modernization occurring in the region.

History
The history of abortion in Qatar is influenced by various legal, religious, and cultural factors. Qatar's legal system relies on Islamic law, and though there is no evidence from the Quran or Sunnah forbidding it, the Fiqh does not encourage abortion. Islamic jurists have debated the permissibility and circumstances of abortion, drawing from interpretations of Quranic verses and Hadiths. Abortion has traditionally been prohibited after ensoulment, which is believed to occur after nineteen weeks from the day of conception. Due to its controversial nature, abortion before ensoulment was only permitted under exceptional circumstances.

However, once Qatar was under the Ottoman Empire's rule in 1786, abortion was gradually prohibited altogether and a newfound significance was placed on women and their wellbeing as the prevention of abortion and safe childbirth became paramount to meet economic and military demands. A couple years after World War I began and the Ottoman Empire fell, Qatar became a British protectorate from 1916 to 1971. Similarly to the Ottoman Empire, pronatalist policies to increase the population were implemented. As abortion was criminalized, access to legal and medical services for women seeking abortions became increasingly limited. In 1971 when Qatar declared its independence, abortion in the case of endangerment to the mothers life was officially legalized.

Islam, The Quran, and Abortion
Located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar is a sovereign state known for its rich Islamic heritage and cultural significance. Qatar is deeply rooted in Islamic traditions, with Islam serving as the predominant religion of its population. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, holds profound significance in the daily lives and spiritual practices of Qatari Muslims, guiding them in matters of faith, morality, and societal values.

Islamic perspectives on abortion are influenced by various factors including Hadith, which comprises the words and actions of the Prophet Muhammad as transmitted through chains of narrators, along with the insights of legal and religious scholars. While the Quran does not specifically discuss intentional abortion, it delegates authority on the matter to the legal frameworks of individual nations. Islamic scholars hold differing viewpoints regarding the permissibility of terminating a pregnancy, but there exists no outright prohibition against a woman's right to abort under Islamic jurisprudence.

Each of the four Sunni Islam schools of thought – Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Hanbali, and Maliki – independently assesses the permissibility of abortions within the framework of Islamic law. The Maliki school of thought asserts that ensoulment occurs at conception, leading to the prohibition of abortion in most cases, as they perceive the fetus to be divinely formed at every stage of development. Conversely, the Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith suggests that the fetus gains a living soul after 120 days of gestation. Consequently, certain Hanafi scholars argue for the permissibility of abortion before this period, while others caution against it, deeming it as disapproved (makruh). Nonetheless, all Islamic schools of thought concur that abortion is warranted when the life of the mother is at risk, prioritizing her well-being above all else.

In Sunni Islam, the timing of ensoulment for a fetus can vary, even within the same school of thought, despite existing consensus. Some schools, including Zahiri, Hanafi, Shi'is, Zaydi, and certain Shafi branches, assert that ensoulment occurs 120 days following conception. Conversely, other Shafi factions place ensoulment at 80 days. In the Maliki and Hanbali traditions, ensoulment is believed to occur at 40 days. Meanwhile, the Ibadi perspective maintains that ensoulment happens immediately at conception. Although some Zahiri scholars, such as Ibn Hazm, argue that the fetus possesses no soul before 120 days, they still prohibit abortion from the moment of conception.

Islamic countries also exhibit varying approaches to abortion, with some allowing it only to save the mother's life, while others permit it under additional circumstances such as preserving the mother's mental health or in cases of incest. Despite these variations, the preservation of life and the well-being of the mother remain central considerations in Islamic teachings on abortion.

Women Social Role
In Qatar, there is a patriarchal society. It is widely believed in Qatari culture that women are obligated to participate in housework, while men are not. It is commonly believed that the division between the two sexes is fair in Qatari culture. It is very common in Qatari culture for women to have parental investment into their marriages. Many of the marriages in Qatari culture are arranged marriages. Women are required to wear traditional clothing.

Having children in Qatar is highly encouraged for women. Having children outside of wedlock can result in being imprisoned due to the ZINA law, which criminalizes sex outside of a legal marriage and can result in up to 7 years of imprisonment. It is also known that in Qatari societal standards, women must obtain permission from their husbands or fathers to travel outside of the country.

Women who live in Qatar and experience sexual violence, rape, or any form of sexual assault, are times unable to receive necessary reproductive healthcare, because many times, authorities require a marriage certification for these procedures.