The idea that the victim of a revolting CRIME is to be punished is just mind-blowingly wrong.

1. It’s absolutely wrong to associate rape with adultery – the idea that the woman is guilty of something (“she made me do it”) by mere fact of presence is repugnant.

2. Whether to abort or not should be the choice of 1 person only – the mother. The law needs to get out of the way and let a woman exercise some choice and control over her life. In the case of a rape – just imagine what a distorted relationship could exist between the mother and the child. Does the mother really need a constant reminder of the rape? Sure some mothers could overcome this trauma and have a healthy relationship with the child – much easier in a SUPPORTIVE society but a raped woman in KSA is a criminal. Never mind the idea of innocence of volition.

Because some fool and his 4 friends (if the article is accurate) can’t exercise a little self control – this woman’s life is destroyed. Disgusting.

It is impossible to offer views about a specific instance when the facts surrounding that specific instance are unknown.

One can certainly offer views about general patterns, of course.

“2) narrow interpretation of abortion rights even within Islam”

Abortion is considered undesirable in Islam, but is permitted to save the life of the mother, as Islam, unlike Christianity, clearly favours preserving the mother’s life over the fetus’ life, as the mother is the source of future life.
Within Islam the concept of ensoulment (Allah’s breath breathing the soul into the fetus) is important for other aspects of the issue of abortion. Most believe ensoulment occurs at 120 days, many at 40 days, and about 10% of Muslims believe ensoulment occurs at the time of conception (when the sperm hits the egg). This affects laws in Muslim countries about when and why an abortion can be performed, with more liberal laws the earlier the pregnancy.

Some (Bahrain, Turkey, Bosnia) have very liberal abortion laws allowing abortion up to the second trimester (4th-6th months inclusive) to spare the mother’s health mental or physical, in cases of rape or incest, for reasons of social hardship etc. Others are more restrictive, and the most restrictive allow abortion only to save the mother’s physical life.

Saudi allows abortion only under certain conditions and only to spare the mother’s life, or her physical or mental health. Abortion is not allowed in the case of rape or incest or social hardship.

If this woman had not sought treatment at a place where the staff were required to legally report her condition she would not have come to legal attention. At 8 weeks she was 60 days pregnant, and assuming she was raped, in many other Muslim countries she would have received the abortion or treatment for a “miscarriage” without the authorities being notified.

“This is one of the reasons why when push comes to shove I believe that men should have little to say about abortion rights.”
I’m sorry, that sounded harsher than intended.I meant only in situations where a man was trying to block a woman’s abortion, or men to abolish access to any abortion (eg in some Catholic dominated countries where the mother’s life is not spared) should men not have a say. Obviously in a loving relationship the decision should be a mutual one, and many men, including male obgyns have faught hard for a woman’s right to have an abortion in situations like physical or mental health problems, rape, incest, and social circumstances.