Dalla Nigeria inchieste inedite sull’aborto (2/4)

Criminalizzare l’aborto è una forma di discriminazione contro le donne. L’aborto è tuttora illegale in Nigeria, ma ciò non impedisce a migliaia di donne di farlo. Queste donne mettono a rischio la loro vita cercando procedure pericolose per interrompere la gravidanza. In questa serie di storie, Hannah, scrittrice, giornalista e ambasciatrice di CotW parla con donne che nonostante il pericolo hanno deciso di abortire.
Nigeria, Western Africa

Story by H.T. Jagiri. Translated by Giovanna Luisetto
Published on June 17, 2023.

This story is also available in GB ng



Criminalizzare l’aborto è una forma di discriminazione contro le donne. L’aborto è tuttora illegale in Nigeria, ma ciò non impedisce a migliaia di donne di farlo. Queste donne mettono a rischio la loro vita cercando procedure pericolose per interrompere la gravidanza. Da persona appassionata di diritti delle donne e uguaglianza di genere, volevo esplorare l’impatto del divieto di abortire in Nigeria. Così cercai donne che hanno rischiato la loro vita per interrompere la gravidanza. Questa è la storia di Amina* una ragazza di 13-anni violentata da un amico di famiglia e costretta a subire un evento estremamente traumatico. Durante il suo racconto, notai che tremava e si sfregava fortemente le dita. Chiunque avrebbe pensato che sentisse freddo, in realtà il vero motivo era un altro. 

"Una sera andai a casa di un amico, e mi offrì del vino di palma [1] mentre giocavamo una partita di Ludo.[2] Mi sentii veramente stanca e mi addormentai per un po’. Quando mi svegliai, era ormai tarda sera, e corsi a casa. Quando mi alzai per andarmene, sentii un forte dolore alla vagina e alla coscia, ma pensai che fosse solo una "fitta". Mi stavo sbagliando.

Arrivai a casa, ma non riuscivo a ricordare nulla del tempo passato a casa del mio amico. Qualche mese dopo scoprii di essere incinta. Ero confusa, perché a quanto ne sapevo, non avevo mai fatto sesso. Avevo solo 13 anni. Mentre la mia famiglia mi interrogava, iniziai a ricordare alcune cose. Andai dal mio amico per confrontarmi con lui, e ammise di avermi violentato. Lo dissi ai miei genitori, e ci precipitammo dalla sua famiglia. Lui negò tutto. Suo padre mi chiamò sgualdrina e disse alla mia famiglia che aprivo le gambe a chiunque avesse un’auto. Mi spezzò il cuore. Lo implorai di dire la verità, ma distolse lo sguardo. La mia famiglia ed io lasciammo quella casa umiliati. I miei genitori mi odiavano per aver coperto di vergogna la famiglia. Nessuno mi credeva. Così decisero che non avrei tenuto il bambino. Mia madre mi portò da un dottore, che disse che era troppo tardi per abortire. Rifiutandosi di crescere il figlio di un altro uomo, mi portò da un altro dottore che acconsentì a procedere.

L’"ospedale" era l’appartamento di un giovane medico, che usava una delle tre-camere da letto della sua casa o appartamento come clinica abortiva. I muri della stanza erano dipinti di bianco, e in alcuni angoli delle pareti c’erano strane macchie. Un grande panno spesso copriva la finestra lasciando la stanza nell’oscurità. Per gli estranei ignari, era semplicemente una normale stanza. Una lampada con scarsa luminosità sopra a quello che sembra un tavolo improvvisato, e un letto d’ospedale.

Non mi era stato nemmeno concesso il lusso di urlare perché nessuno doveva sapeva cosa stesse succedendo, così mi morsi le labbra fino a farle sanguinare e mi tenni aggrappata al bordo del letto.

 Mi disse di sdraiarmi e di spalancare le gambe. Non riuscivo a capire cosa avesse inserito dentro di me, ma sentii che il metallo toccava la mia pelle. Sentii un dolore atroce nel momento in cui fece il raschiamento e aspirò. Non mi era stato nemmeno concesso il lusso di urlare perché nessuno doveva sapeva cosa stesse succedendo, così mi morsi le labbra fino a farle sanguinare e mi tenni aggrappata al bordo del letto. Quando finì, mi diede una confezione di paracetamolo e mi mandò a casa.”

A questo punto smise di parlare e lasciò finalmente scendere quelle lacrime che aveva trattenuto dall’inizio del racconto. Ci fermammo per un’ora, per dare il tempo a lei di calmarsi e a me di elaborare quelle parole. C’era un’ultima domanda che dovevo farle. Dovevo sapere se fosse pentita di avere abortito. 

"Per quanto traumatico sia stato, sarebbe stato molto peggio se avessi tenuto il suo bambino. Non voglio neanche immaginare come sarebbe la mia vita adesso se avessi partorito."


[1] Il vino di palma è una bevanda alcolica ricavata dalla linfa delle palme

[2] Ludo is a strategy board game

Il Ludo è un gioco di strategia da tavolo

*I nomi con asterisco sono stati cambiati per proteggere l’identità di chi ha testimoniato a Correspondents of the World in forma anonima

Leggi qui la 3’ parte – “Il punto di vista del medico” in questa serie di storie di inchieste inedite sull’aborto in Nigeria. 


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H.T. Jagiri

H.T. Jagiri

Aside from being a content writer, H.T. Jagiri is a journalist and creative writer who believes every story is worth telling. Her creative works can be found in Kalahari review, Brittle paper, Olongo Africa and elsewhere. In her words, "We all have a singular purpose on earth, mine is to tell stories."

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