“The Legal Status of the Fetus in Islamic and Comparative Family Law” Discussed at the Contemporary Challenges in Family Law Series

The fourth conference of the Contemporary Challenges in Family Law Series, organized by the Ibn Haldun University School of Law, was held under the title “The Legal Status of the Fetus in Islamic and Comparative Family Law” on 2nd of October 2026.

Asst. Prof. Afra Uysal, a faculty member at the School of Law, delivered the conference, which was moderated by Asst. Prof. Meryem Solmaz. The event focused on the legal status of the fetus and contemporary debates surrounding abortion from the perspectives of Islamic and comparative law.

In her presentation, Asst. Prof. Uysal examined the fetus’s legal capacity, legal protection, and the legal issues arising in this context from a comparative perspective. Particular emphasis was placed on the rights and claims of the mother and father in cases involving interventions affecting the fetus, as well as the claims that, under Islamic law, may be exercised by the fetus’s heirs.

These issues were discussed comparatively in light of the relevant provisions of Turkish civil law. The presentation was further enriched by examples drawn from Ottoman court records and historical legal documents, providing insight into the treatment of issues concerning the fetus in different legal and historical contexts.

The conference concluded with a question-and-answer session.