British Asian community expresses disappointment over Roe v. Wade ruling

The recent US Supreme Court ruling which overturned Roe v. Wade giving individual states the right to put strict restrictions on abortions for women has drawn a lot of criticism from all over the world, with many communities and countries expressing their disappointment.

In the UK, many well-known British Asians came forward to speak in solidarity with many women in the US who will be affected by the ruling.

Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana posted on Twitter, “Sending love and solidarity to everyone in the United States whose lives are now endangered by the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.”

“The Supreme Court entrenches the misogynistic and racist Republican project for minority rule.”

“Only democratic majorities can protect our rights,” she added.

British Asian artist Rajvi, also known as Shaw, reposted Mohamad Safa’s post on Instagram which read, “When the penalty for aborting after rape is more severe than the penalty for rape, that’s when you know it’s a war on women.”

Britain’s ‘first breakthrough Indian model’ Neelam Gill, and beauty influencer and podcaster Anchal Seda retweeted a post from Anne Ursu, which read, “Fun fact: In addition to being wives and daughters and mothers and sisters and grandmas and aunties, women are also people.”

The Indian Feminist, a popular Instagram page run by a British Asian wrote, “A rapist won’t be given a forced vasectomy but a rape victim will have to grow, carry and birth a baby against her will. Make it make sense.”

Founder of Burnt Roti Mag and Oh Queer Cupid, Sharan Dhaliwal, shared a statement on her social media which said, “More people with uteruses saying no to sexual advances for fear of getting pregnant = more violence enacted against them.”

In another post, she wrote, “I have had 3 abortions in my life. While I’m appreciative that I don’t live in the US (for many reasons), I am aware of how complicated it is to get safe abortions in the UK.”

“From needing two GPs for sign-off, safety for queer and trans ppl and travel is still compulsory for many.”

British Asian journalist Ash Sarkar wrote on Twitter, “Contraception and abortion underpin women’s ability to fully participate in society. For us to work, live, and love how we choose.”

In a second tweet, she added, “Violence may not be acceptable, but I swear to god, if my right to decide if and when to have a child was taken away from me, I would dedicate the rest of my life to kicking every man who’d been a part of that decision square in the knackers.”

US President Joe Biden said that the ruling is a “tragic blunder” and has set the nation back by 150 years, with noteworthy figures like US Vice President Kamala Harris and actress Priyanka Chopra conveying how disheartened they are.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned several states including Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota immediately put restrictions on abortions effective immediately.