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The Story

A British woman is jailed for abortion - does the law need to change?

The Story

The Times

Current Affairs, Daily News Podcast, News Analysis, Politics, News, Audio Storytelling, Uk News, Exclusive Interviews, Investigative Reporting, In-depth Journalism, Daily News, Long-form Audio, Global News

3.91.6K Ratings

🗓️ 21 June 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A woman has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after using abortion pills to end her pregnancy after the legal time limit, sparking protests and calls for abortion to be decriminalised. But could law reform risk abortion rights becoming more restrictive?

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Guest: Hannah Al-Othman, News Reporter, The Sunday Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Parliament Live TV, Talk TV.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Before we start, this episode contains discussions around abortion and domestic abuse.

0:19.8

On Saturday, as London baked in the sun, protesters gathered outside the World Courts of Justice

0:26.8

in Westminster.

0:32.8

Directly above them, the famed red arrows flew past with plumes of red, white and blue

0:39.7

trailing behind them to mark the King's official birthday and the Trooping of the Colour.

0:52.8

Had a royal celebration, wouldn't drown out the crowd's chance, holding up colourful

0:58.8

placards, reading, our bodies, our right to decide, and health care, not handcuffs.

1:07.2

The protesters were calling for a change to Britain's abortion laws.

1:20.1

The protest was sparked by the case of a woman jailed in England for using abortion pills

1:27.2

to end her pregnancy at home, after it had passed the legal time limit.

1:32.7

A lot of my career has been with domestic abuse victims and I have known people who've

1:37.0

been in incredibly difficult situations, realising that their pregnant really laid on

1:40.4

and that there are women for whom they end up in devastating situations as a result

1:45.0

of that time limit and I think that impact should also be taken into account.

1:48.9

I'm here because it's my body, my choice and I need to keep the policies and the politics

1:54.6

off of our reproductive rights and I need to free everyone that's been arrested for these

1:58.4

stupid laws.

2:03.6

For many, it's been a stark reminder that thanks to Victorian laws, abortion is still a crime

2:11.2

in Britain and it's sparked a debate in the House of Parliament and across the media.

2:17.8

Crucially though, it throws a spotlight on our antiquated abortion laws and government

2:23.7

and parliament must look at this outdated legislation and make it fit for the 21st century.

2:29.2

This woman knowingly, deliberately killed her unborn child, she didn't need to do that,

...

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