Morocco is gaining momentum in its political efforts to ease the country's restrictive abortion laws. The country is considering reform that would make it legal to receive an abortion if the patient has been a victim of rape or incest.
The consideration stems from King Mohammed VI, who in March ordered that the special circumstances of rape and incest should be observed in cases of abortion.
When the king of Morocco wants something to pass, it usually happens, according to USA Today.
The parliament is set to decide in the coming weeks, and predictions point to the changes passing, though there is opposition from the Justice and Development Party, a major conservative Islamist group.
In Morocco, an estimated 600-800 women get abortions everyday, but because of current laws, it is only truly legal to perform the procedure if the mother's life is at risk, according to the Globe and Mail.
Women who are caught attempting illegal abortions can face up to two years in prison, and doctors performing the operations can be sentenced up to 20 years, according to the Huffington Post.
The underground procedures are potentially life-threatening, often using sharp objects and poison.
Controversy over the comments of Dr. Chafik Chraïbi, who spoke out against the country's abortion policies, sparked the king's decision and social discussion.
Chraïbi is the former head of maternal health care at the Clinique les Orangers in Rabat; he was fired after making high-profile comments against the Moroccan Ministry of Health's views on abortion.
