Surrogacy in Muslim Communities of the Middle East and Russia: Trends and Perspectives
https://doi.org/10.22394/2073-7203-2022-40-4-242-254
Abstract
The article compares views on surrogate motherhood in the Muslim communities of the Middle East and Russia. It identifies current trends in attitudes of the Muslim population and Muslim leaders to surrogacy. Although Sunni Muslim leaders in the Middle East remain predominantly opposed to it, and public opinion in general continues to view surrogacy as an unacceptable form of assisted reproductive technology, some researchers advocate a change in attitude. Shiite Is‑ lam allows gestational surrogacy as a method of overcoming infertility and promotes the respective technologies, and this policy is sup‑ ported by the Shi’a population. In Russia, despite the predominance of Sunni Islam among the Muslim population, the negative attitude to‑ wards surrogate motherhood is not as categorical as in the countries of the Middle East. Spiritual leaders allow the use of surrogacy in exceptional cases, when this is the only way to have children. The differences in restrictions in the use of reproductive technologies contribute to the development of “tourism” in the field of reproductive health.
About the Authors
V. Suvorov
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine;
Saratov State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Valeriy Suvorov — Research Fellow
E. Fakhrudinova
Kazan State Power Engineering University;
Kazan State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elmira Fakhrudinova — Assistant Professor
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Review
For citations:
Suvorov V., Fakhrudinova E. Surrogacy in Muslim Communities of the Middle East and Russia: Trends and Perspectives. State, Religion and Church in Russia and Worldwide. 2022;40(4):242-254. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22394/2073-7203-2022-40-4-242-254
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