Download Pia Vaidya and Shefali Baweja

Pia Vaidya and Shefali Baweja
Watchung Hills Regional High School
UN Educational, Scientific, & Cultural Organization
Ethics of Stem Cell Research
Saudi Arabia
The use of stem-cell research to create treatments has been considered, throughout
the world, as a cause of much ethical debate. Whether based on the religious reasoning,
economic standpoint, or the scientific nature of the nation, the use of stem-cell research
has affected many countries. The United Nations had even adopted a declaration to ban
human cloning, which was later repealed due to strong opposition. However, Saudi
Arabia has recently been involved in the promotion of embryonic stem cell research.
Saudi Arabia’s culture has allowed the nation’s people to tolerate the use of embryos to
extract stem cells before differentiation occurs. Based on the methods of research and its
Islamic views, Saudi Arabia feels that the stem cell research should be encouraged and
utilized in order to create treatments to ensure healthier future generations.
Saudi Arabia is a significant area within the Middle East. It borders the Persian
Gulf and Red Sea. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, containing the two most
important cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina. Much of Saudi Arabia’s land is inhabited,
as it is mostly sandy desert. The ethnic groups of Saudi Arabia are broken down into 90%
Arabian, and 10% Afro-Asian, with Arabic as the national language. Saudi Arabia is
100% Islamic, and is a theocracy constituted on Shari’a law, with the capital being
Riyadh. It gained independence in 1932, and oil was discovered there in 1937. Saudi
Arabia consists of an oil-based economy controlled by the government. It is the largest
exporter of petroleum, thus making Saudi Arabia important in worldwide affairs.
Saudi Arabian views on stem cell research reflect the Islamic outlook on research.
Because Islam does not negate the use of stem cell research, Saudi Arabia supports the
use of stem cells to further research. Couples who use in vitro fertilization, (IFV) where
fertilization occurs outside a woman’s womb, often get more embryos than are needed for
conception to occur. As a result, these embryos could be donated to another woman or to
research. Donating the embryo to another woman would lead to surrogacy, a process
termed as “illegitimate” by Islamic law. Therefore, donation of these embryos to science
would be more religiously accepted. Chapter twenty-three, verses twelve to fourteen of
the Koran have also been interpreted by scholars to reveal that according to Islamic fate,
the embryo is not considered a human until it has developed 120 days past conception.
Using this to justify their research, scientists in Saudi Arabia have been using stem cells
in university laboratories. Saudi Arabia has also invested much of its money into
biotechnology.
Saudi Arabia feels that the use of stem cell research should be continued so that
developments can be made in science. It feels that once a majority of nations agree to the
benefits of stem cell research, the United Nations will declare research accepted.
However, to gain worldwide support, indecisive nation should be educated so that they
will turn in favor of stem cell research. Saudi Arabia also hopes to gain more funding to
support its endeavors in research.
The use of embryonic stem cell research may prove to be very useful in finding
cures and treatments to such diseases as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart
disease, and osteoporosis. This will yield to healthier populations, and stronger nations.
This is important to recognize, especially in this time when many fall victims to these
diseases. Saudi Arabia realizes this importance, and encourages the breakthrough use of
embryonic stem cell research worldwide as a means to develop these treatments and
promote the betterment of the global community.