Spanish Inquisition on Abortion

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In October, 1976, eleven women were arrested in Bilbao, 8 of them for having abortions, 2 for attempting their own abortions (one of them unsuccessfuly but still forced to answer charges in this grisly. trial) and one woman accused of carrying them out.

Abortion is illegal in Spain. Penalties range from 6 months to six years in gaol plus 11 years being stripped of the right to vote or stand for public office for having an abortion plus a minimum six years in gaol for each abortion performed on another person. Thousands of Spanish women are forced to travel to Britain to private non-protit making clinics such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Marie Stopes for their abortions- although naturally this is financially impossible for most working class women 60 years imprisonment The Corrie Bill, if passed, will not only affect romen in this country.

Thr eleven accused come from a working class neighbourhood in Bilbao (in the Basque country, Euskadi) and all bar one were married and had two or more children already and had been refused contraceptives by their doctors.

The abortionist, who faces at least 60 years imprisonment, charged an average of £20 to those who could afford it and used Published by the Workers Socialist League, 31 Dart Printed by Anvil Printers the rechnique of introducing a solution of soapy water and alcohol into the vagina.

Several women have been taken to hospital after this treatment, although none have died at her hands.

A massive campaign was mounted, led by the Coordinating Body of Feminist Groups in Euskadi (CGFÉ) with the intervention of left parties, trade union sections,/ workers councils and local government councils.

The CGFE has consistently sought to exclude the workers movement and parties on the grounds that it was a 'women's issue' and has run the campaign on the limited demand for 'the right to abortion' and "amnesty for the 11' This means only repealing anti-abortion legislation but not calling for free abortion on demand so that safe abortion would still only be available to those who could afford abortions. Sit-ins, rallies and demonstrations-strongly supported by the left and the trade union movement-took place despite savage harassment from the police.

The CGFE resolution calling for the right to abortion' • and 'amnesty for the 11' was put to the vote at local government level around the country.

The Spanish Communist and Socialist Parties (PCE and PSOE) underlined their already infamous treachery by abstaining.

In one council a tied vote was reached and the PSOE mayor was forced out of his abstentionist position. He used his casting vote: : against the motion! In councils uth Park Hill, London NW51HR. where these "socialists" had the majority they refused to take the motion because it was "too political"!

In Bilbao, where the resolution was sponsored by the Basque left nationalist parties Euskadiko Ezkerra and Herri Batasuna, these "socialists" again abstained.

Women burst into the city chambers screaming macnistas, you le the leftonists and these fake "lefts promptly called the police.

Despite the sectarian orientation of the féminists, widespread support mounted so that on the day there was a huge demonstration outside the courtrooms, formed by trade union sections, women's groups, residents associations and political parties.

The judge suspended the trial for an undefined period on the grounds that 2 of the defendants were not present (one had not yet received her citation) but not before hurling to the ground a 25,000 strong petition presented to him by the defence.

Only a partial reprieve has been gained for this gruesome affair and the openly fascist right wing have been whipped up to a new pitch of hysteria against 'democracy' Barbarism Although the repressive apparatus set up by Franco's dictatorship has remained intact since his death and the beginning of the sham "democratic process" in Spain, the fascist press claims that the government is being "too soft" and is "afloat on a sea of subversion".

They equate abortion with "barbarism and murder" and declare that these women represent Ha • despotism which will finish democracy"

Ominous statements have been issued by right wing generals which hold "democracy" responsible for the supposed decline of "catholic sexual mores"

In practice, "catholic sexual mores" really means the cult of both virginity and motherhood, monogamy for women; "sluts' to provide gratification for male sexuality and the repression of both homosexuality and the sexuality of 'good' women Throw out Suarez Sections of the "progressive" bourgeoisie are still anxious to broaden the democratic base of their anti-worker governments but there is a real threat of a military coup d'etat from traditional business interests and sections of the armed forces and the police.

Key questions such as abort on rightscannot be isolated from the con'ext of the vicious repression of democratic rights which forms part of the system of control and exploitation which capitalism riust exercise over the working class in order to survive, These rights can only be won through the independent mobilisation of the working class under the leadership of its revolutionary party to overthrow the anti-worker Suarez regime and bring a workers government to power.