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| Brazil police break up illegal abortion ring, arrest 47 | Brazil police break up illegal abortion ring, arrest 47 |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Police in Brazil have broken up an illegal abortion network operating in the Rio de Janeiro area. | Police in Brazil have broken up an illegal abortion network operating in the Rio de Janeiro area. |
| Forty-seven people were arrested as part of Operation Herod, which followed the deaths of two Brazilian women who had illegal abortions. | Forty-seven people were arrested as part of Operation Herod, which followed the deaths of two Brazilian women who had illegal abortions. |
| Police arrested its suspected leader, Dr Aloisio Soares Guimaraes, and issued a further 28 arrest warrants. | |
| Abortion is only legal in Brazil in cases of rape, brain abnormalities or if the mother's life is at risk. | Abortion is only legal in Brazil in cases of rape, brain abnormalities or if the mother's life is at risk. |
| About 2,000 women are believed to have used the abortion clinics, paying up to 7,500 reais ($3,100; £2,000) for the procedure. | |
| The countries of predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America have some of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the world. | The countries of predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America have some of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the world. |
| Human rights groups and medical associations in Brazil have called for abortions to be legalised in more cases than the law currently allows. | Human rights groups and medical associations in Brazil have called for abortions to be legalised in more cases than the law currently allows. |
| A 2010 survey suggests as many as one in five Brazilian women has had an abortion before the age of 40. | A 2010 survey suggests as many as one in five Brazilian women has had an abortion before the age of 40. |
| Facing prison | Facing prison |
| Police said the illegal abortions were performed in "unsanitary places (...) putting the physical integrity and health of the patients at risk". | Police said the illegal abortions were performed in "unsanitary places (...) putting the physical integrity and health of the patients at risk". |
| The investigation lasted 15 months before arrests were made on Tuesday. Those detained include six police officers, three doctors and a firefighter. | The investigation lasted 15 months before arrests were made on Tuesday. Those detained include six police officers, three doctors and a firefighter. |
| The deaths of two women who sought abortions made headlines recently in Brazil. | The deaths of two women who sought abortions made headlines recently in Brazil. |
| In August, the body of Jandira Magdalena dos Santos, 27, was found burnt in a car in Rio following a botched termination - nine people were later arrested. | In August, the body of Jandira Magdalena dos Santos, 27, was found burnt in a car in Rio following a botched termination - nine people were later arrested. |
| A month later, Elizangela Barbosa, 32, died following an abortion, also in the Rio area. A plastic tube had been left in her stomach. | A month later, Elizangela Barbosa, 32, died following an abortion, also in the Rio area. A plastic tube had been left in her stomach. |
| Human rights groups argue that the current rules pose a risk to women determined to get an abortion. | Human rights groups argue that the current rules pose a risk to women determined to get an abortion. |
| Women and girls who violate the ban in Brazil face lengthy jail sentences. | Women and girls who violate the ban in Brazil face lengthy jail sentences. |
| The country boasts a growing evangelical movement which is deeply opposed to a change in the abortion laws. | The country boasts a growing evangelical movement which is deeply opposed to a change in the abortion laws. |
| Latin America's abortion laws | Latin America's abortion laws |
| Sources: World Health Organisation, Guttmacher Institute | Sources: World Health Organisation, Guttmacher Institute |