Selective abortion is “unlawful and Haraam”: Darul Uloom issues fatwa

Lucknow: Islamic seminary, the Darul Uloom of Deoband, has issued a decree restricting selective abortion of female foetuses, calling the act “unlawful and against Islam” on Wednesday.

Deoband spokesperson Maulana Ashraf Usmani was quoted as saying by Times of India, “It’s a first fatwa against sex-selective abortions. The act is against Islam and there is no grace in the eye of Allah for those doing it,”

Usmani added, “We appeal to Muslims to refrain from any act which discriminates the girl child. Our vicechancellor has termed sex-selective abortions cold-bloodedmurders.”

As per the government figures, the number of girls up to six years old per 1,000 boys in the same age group among Indian Muslims declined from 950 in 2001 to 943 in 2011.