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Ireland: Thousands Join Pro-Choice Rally After Teenage Rape Victim Forced to Give Birth

HeadlineAug 21, 2014

Thousands rallied in Dublin, Ireland, to protest anti-choice laws after a teenage rape victim was denied an abortion and forced to undergo a C-section. The woman, who has not been named, said she first sought an abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, but the state deliberately delayed her case. She reported being suicidal, went on a hunger strike and was ultimately forced to deliver prematurely at 25 weeks. Ireland softened its ban on abortion last year following the death of Savita Halappanavar, who died from an infection after being denied an abortion. While abortion is now allowed if a woman’s life is in danger, including from suicide, critics say the new rules are complex and may be nearly impossible to navigate.

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