Around 80,000, mostly illegal, abortions take place yearly in the Islamic Republic of Iran amounting to nine percent of all expected births, a top health ministry official said in comments published Sunday by Entekhab daily.
"Young girls aged around 23 are the ones who resort the most to abortions, either to hide illegal sexual relations or legal relations before marriage" such as when they are engaged, Deputy Health Minister Hossein Malek Afzali said.
There has been an increase in pre-marital sex in the country, especially among young people, the paper added, quoting doctors and specialists. (Albawaba.com)
