Khalifa turns down IVF law over discriminatory clauses

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan turned down a draft law on invitro-fertilisation (IVF) citing discrimination concerns, the Federal National Council (FNC) was told on Tuesday.

Shaikh Khalifa condemned as 'discriminatory and contradictory to international conventions' a clause which stipulates that at least a Muslim IVF specialist be appointed among the staff of every IVF centre across the country.

"The clause not only contradicts international conventions which prohibits all forms of discrimination but also contravenes Article 25 of the UAE Constitution which states that all persons are equal before the law, without distinction between citizens of the Union in regard to race, nationality, religious belief or social status," Shaikh Khalifa said in a statement.

Shaikh Khalifa added that freezing embryos requires a fatwa or a religious edict, so the later use of eggs would be better than embryos.

Shaikh Khalifa is also of the view that matter pertaining to the appointment of medical, technical and administrative staff of the IVF centres should be addressed by the executive statute of the law.

The lawmakers submitted to Shaikh Khalifa critique of the draft law.

The FNC decided to add a new article to the draft law to implement a supervisory committee that will ensure that all IVF centres are working in accordance with Islamic rules, teachings and ethics.