ABORTION is completely illegal in Spain, but many people, have learned to do abortions. In some areas a service is provided that the police know about but shut their eyes to.
Prosecutions usually only arise when something ends up in hospital.
A vear ago in Seville five women and three men formed a group giving sex. ual and contraceptive adThey регтогтса abortions up to ten weeks. including medical workers, Then a woman went to the because band wanted her to have an abortion.
It was obvious that the police already had an imformant because they immediately arrested the eight workers and questioned 432 women who had had abortions.
The eight were released on bail after three days' detention. were then summonsed to pear before a civil judge.
Declared A campaign began early this year for a general amnesty and legalisation of abortion.
All 432 women when questioned in court admit-ted having had abortions part of the political campaign 2,500 women including MPs and others prominent in public . went to the judge to declare that they, too, had had abortions.
A further 20,000 women throughout the country signed similar statements. The judge has and sent statements to their local judges.
He has asked for the Seville trials to be transferbecause they've become too big for him Signatures continue to be collected and ICASC, the international abortion campaign, has taken it up throughout the world.
Meanwhile in Bilbao a trial suspended since 1979 of pressure löoks like being Since the coup • in Spain tension has risen in the chance of mounting a ICASC is meeting Seville on 27-28 June and is asking women to take inelt nolidays there at that time Copies of the form for signatures and a special petition for medical workers can be obtained NAC/ICASC, Grays Inn Rd, London WCI. Tel 01-278 0153.