Registered with the Post Office as a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest for Red Weekly, 182 Pentonville Road, London N.1. (01-837 6954) Dr Henry Morgentaler, the Montreal surgeon jailed by the Canadian Govern ment for performing illegal abortions, was released from jail on 26 January, Despite the Appeals Court's recent decision to uphold the original jury decision or not guilty , nis battie is not finished. The Federal Justice Minister has ordered a new trial newspaper Militant.
tion laws are concerned?
be something that is regulated by the dual decision, and that freedom of choice Is an important issue just as simple as that.
Dr Morgentaler gave the following interview to the American Trotskyist weekly What is your goal as far as the aborfighting for it.
viv view is inat abortion snould not state, that it should be a woman's indiviA woman should have the right to control her body. She should have the right to decide whether she wants an abortion or not for an unwanted pregnancy. If she has decided she does want an abortion, the state should not inter fere in any way. She should be allowed To nave a sate medical abortion. Its This is basically what happened in the United States. This is not achieved overmont, it comes as a resuit or many group: and ine reminist movement and omers in the united states inis resulted in the Supreme Court declaring the abortion laws unconstitutional. Well, in Canada vou have a different situation in the sense unar me power structure Is mucH more based on and related to the Cath olic nierarchv nar makes i narder to advance in this particular area.
What do you think is the significance of the appeals court decision in your case to upnold the fury veruict or not guilty?
the appeals courts decision is per haps a step forward. A small step forward.
I don't think that this was a big victory. The only thing you could call a bie victory is ine repear or me abortio laws, which will allow women to obtain abortions on demand; inat is, wnen they need and want one.
A lot of work and energy are still necessary. People should remain active in the struggle. It is far from won