Portuguese court acquits seven women of illegal abortion charges

[La_Serpiente]

Portuguese court acquits seven women of illegal abortion charges

AVEIRO, Portugal (AFP) - A court in Portugal acquitted seven women accused of having had illegal abortions in a highly-charged case which has reignited debate over the country's restrictive abortion laws.

A doctor who was charged with allegedly performing the abortions at his clinic in the central coastal town of Aveiro was also acquitted, as were nine other people charged as accomplices.

These included two employees of the doctor and the parents and boyfriends or husbands of the seven women, who accompanied them to the clinic where the abortions are said to have taken place.

Presiding judge Paulo Brandao said that while public prosecutors had proved the doctor had carried out abortions at his clinic, they had not proved the seven women charged had undergone the procedure.

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Portuguese court acquits seven women of illegal abortion charges