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"  For the first time in the history of the devoutly Catholic nation, Ireland will legally allow abortion\u2014but only in the event that the mother&amp;#039;s life is at risk. The Irish Parliament passed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill early today, sprung to action by the death last year of Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old woman who was having a miscarriage at 17 weeks, but was denied a life-saving abortion by doctors. The bill&amp;#039;s passage didn&amp;#039;t come without turmoil: Protesters rallied so fiercely against the bill, letters written in blood were reportedly sent to Prime Minister Enda Kenny. A provision allowing abortion if a pregnant woman is at risk of committing suicide sparked debate from conservatives and Church leaders who argue that women could cry foul, according to the Irish Times. (It still passed.) And female lawmakers were shot down when they tried to include an amendment to allow abortion in the event of rape or incest.  The new abortion bill is a very small step for women&amp;#039;s rights in Ireland; for most women, there is still no choice. Unless her pregnancy is putting her life at risk, &amp;quot;it shall be an offense to intentionally destroy unborn human life,&amp;quot; the law reads\u2014and abortion is punishable by 14 years in prison.  The bill now heads to the Irish Senate and President Michael D. Higgins.  Follow Michelle on Twitter. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a14151/ireland-abortion/?src=global_footer>