March, vigil in memory of Savita who died in Ireland after denied abortion

New Delhi: On the tenth death anniversary of Indian-origin dentist- Savita Halappanavar- who died after being denied an abortion by Ireland, marches and vigils were planned for Saturday at the country's capital, demanding serious reform in abortion laws, IANS reported.

Thirty-one-year-old then, Savitha succumbed to a septicemia infection she contracted after she was denied an abortion during a miscarriage. She was 17 weeks pregnant and admitted to the University Hospital Galway.

Her death incited protests across the country over its strict abortion laws and repealing of the Eighth Amendment that banned termination of pregnancies there.

Orla O'Connor, director of the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI), told Irish Times, "It's really important to remember Savita's death.

Her organisation, as well as the Union of Students in Ireland, support the march organised by the socialist feminist group Rosa.

A Rosa member, Ruth Coppinger, told Irish Examiner, "I think the march is very important because we appeal to people to remember Savita and say never again should any woman die or suffer who has asked for an abortion."

The organisers of the upcoming march said that though the Eighth Amendment got repealed, there are still problems remaining with the provision of termination in the country.

An Ireland Twitter user, Paul Sceeny, wrote, "Today we remember #Savita, ten years after her appalling and needless death - a direct result of cruel misogynist abortion laws. Despite progress since then, far too many pregnant people throughout the island of Ireland are still having to travel for reproductive healthcare."

The Irish Embassy in London organised a vigil in memory of Savita on Saturday.

"Women & girls from Ireland, North & South, still being forced to go to England to access abortion when the law fails them," Cara Sanquest, Labour Councillor for Queen's Park, Westminster, tweeted.

Then, Savita and her husband had submitted three requests for an emergency termination of her pregnancy, a report by The Guardian had stated. But, they were rejected, stating that Ireland is a Catholic country and they cannot terminate since the foetus was alive.

Her requests were denied even though she submitted that she was Hindu and not a citizen of Ireland.

Savita reached Ireland in 2008 from Karantaka's Belgaum. She became pregnant in July 2012.