Iranian officials deny controversial law caused increase in birth defects

Iranian officials are denying claims that a controversial law, which restricts prenatal screenings and limits access to diagnostic test kits for congenital anomalies, has led to an increase in birth defects.

The law, enacted three years ago, has been criticized by experts and human rights groups for violating women's rights to sexual and reproductive health and endangering women's health and lives.

In an interview with the Tehran daily, Etemad, Amir Hossein Bankipour, a former MP and head of the joint commission responsible for passing the law, denied any increase in birth defects over the past 33 months.

He stated, "The numbers remained the same despite the controversy stirred on social media."

Etemad further reported that since the law's enactment, "The Ministry of Health has yet to provide any statistics on birth defects, merely asserting that despite a reduction of 200,000 pregnancy screenings during the law's enforcement, no increase in fetal abnormalities has been observed."

Typically conducted during the first trimester, these tests are employed to identify and assess the risk of various congenital conditions, such as Down syndrome and chromosomal anomalies like trisomy.

Under the "Supporting Family and Regenerating Population Act", screening procedures may only be initiated at the request of the parents or a specialist doctor and only if substantial evidence necessitating the screening is provided. In such cases, families must independently cover the associated costs.

Nevertheless, a ban announced last year has rendered it impossible to access screening kits for congenital anomalies in Iran.

The Health Ministry’s Food and Drug Administration announced it will no longer issue permits for medical kits that serve as diagnostic tools used primarily in prenatal screening and general disease detection.

That includes the production or importation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests.

Khamenei's punitive push to increase population growth

Although recent statistics are unavailable, officials in 2015 reported that the annual rate of children born with birth defects ranged between 50,000 and 70,000. Etemad’s article also suggests a figure of approximately 60,000.

In 2005, based on a fatwa by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other religious authorities, the "Therapeutic Abortion" act was passed by parliament and approved by the Guardian Council. The law prevented the birth of children in Iran who either endangered the mother's life, had a short and burdensome life expectancy, or possessed chromosomal abnormalities.

Then, fifteen years later, Khamenei publicly changed his stance, commenting on the necessity of increasing the population, stating that limiting the population was a "mistake" and asking God for forgiveness.

Following his remarks, members of parliament introduced the controversial law, which also mandates that government and state entities actively promote marriage and childbearing, imposes penalties for non-compliance, and prohibits any activities endorsing birth control.

Additionally, it bans government health services from offering family planning services, including contraceptives, vasectomies, and tubectomies.

Birth rate continues to decline, despite state's efforts

In a commentary published last year in Etemad, Abbas Abdi noted that the current administration and parliament have invested at least 250 trillion rials ($500 million) annually to increase the birth rate.

Analysts have argued that Khamenei's desire to boost the country's population is underpinned by a strategic aim to bolster Iran's geopolitical influence and sustain the regime's power through demographic manipulation.

Despite these extensive efforts to promote an increase in fertility rates, Iran's Civil Registration Organization has reported a decline in birth rates for the year 2023.

According to official statistics, births fell from 1,075,381 in 2022 to 1,057,948 in 2023.

Critics of the population increase policy argue that the Islamic Republic has failed to enhance living standards, with official statistics showing that over a third of the population lives below the absolute poverty line, and many more endure increasing hardship despite holding multiple jobs.

Nonetheless, Khamenei advocates for Iran's population to reach at least 150 million by 2050, emphasizing this as a purportedly necessary measure to prevent an aging demographic.