Missouri and Iran Agree on the Unborn
Bottom Line Up Front: What do Iran and Missouri have in common? They both sanction embryonic stem cell research.
During the mid-term elections earlier this month, the Missouri initiative for stem cell research was approved by the voters. Embryonic stem cell research proponents said the initiative did not allow for cloning and rejected the ethical dilemma by simply declaring that no human life would be destroyed.
Missouri’s Amendment 2 played a virtual shell game with terminology saying that “cloning” is defined by implantation of an embryo, not fertilization. If a human can be produced in a test tube or petri dish, he can be cloned. If a human has implanted in the wall of the uterus as with normal pregnancy or invetro fertilization that is implanted, he will not be cloned. It also defines a “person” as any natural person, corporation, association, partnership, public or private institution, or other legal entity. This terminology excludes the unborn or embryonic, implicitly denying that human life begins at conception.
Interestingly enough, according to Fox News, Iran agrees with these definitions. Fox News reporter Amy Kellogg on assignment in Iran made the distinction between Pres. Bush’s insistence that human life begins at conception and Iran’s:
Kellogg: “Islam however, defines life differently:
Dr. Reza Samani: ‘We don’t call a pre-implantation embryo a human, so we can do the research on this stage of embryo. But after implantation in the uterus, no one can touch the embryo.’
Kellogg: Samani says Muslims believe after 121 days God gives the fetus a soul. It was this Fatwa issued by Iran’s supreme leader Ahotollah Khamenei that opened the door to embryonic stem cell research 4 years ago. “A Fatwa is simply a religious edict.”“Animal cloning, organ donation and even invetro fertilization in Iran have come about through Fatwas.”
(Watch the video by clicking on the player below)
Defining embryonic stem cell research and the start of human life is virtually identical between both Missouri and Iran and their belief that life begins after conception justifies experimentation.
Amy Kellogg also ran this fascinating piece on Fox News describing Iranian discontent with the current Islamic culture in Iran as they look to pre-Islamic custom as a source of hope. WATCH:
Cross-posted @ Amy’s Blog: Bottom Line Up Front
November 19th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
There is a very good reason for this fatwa. Pesumably, God knows that half of all zygotes fail to implant.
November 19th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
There is a very good reason for this fatwa. Presumably, God knows that half of all zygotes fail to implant.