The ethics of embryonic stem cell research in Turkey: Exploring the moral reasoning of Muslim scholars

Abstract

Human life is respected both in secular and religious terms. However, when a human life begins, when an embryo becomes a human and/or person, is not an easy question to answer. The very ambiguity of the biological process translates itself into a series of ambiguities in the moral area. This is especially true for a subject matter such as human embryonic stem cells that promise a wide array of possibilities concerning human health, while the related research poses grave moral questions. This paper, in the first part, discusses the moral status of the embryo from Islamic-religious perspectives. In the second part, based on previously conducted qualitative research, the paper reveals ethical positions of Muslim scholars living in Turkey and the normative religious principles on which Turkish Muslim scholars base their positions regarding embryonic stem cell research. Despite the heterogeneity of the normative religious principles presented, three normative religious principles, including benefits (maslahah) and harm (mafsadah), general rule ('azimah) and exemption (rukhsah), and inviolability (ismah), stand out amongst the others. © 2020 selection and editorial matter, Christine Hauskeller, Arne Manzeschke, and Anja Pichl. All rights reserved.