DUBLIN: Leading Irish actors have urged voters in a video posted online Sunday to legalize abortion in the country, as campaigning intensifies ahead of a referendum later this month on the issue.
The black-and-white video features an ensemble of screen stars voicing their opposition to laws making abortion illegal in Ireland unless there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother.
Women are free to travel abroad for abortions 鈥� and thousands do so every year, mainly to England 鈥� but they face 14 years imprisonment if convicted of having an illegal termination on the island.
鈥淚n Ireland today,鈥� begins 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� actor Liam Cunningham, 鈥渋f the woman sitting next to you is pregnant鈥� continues local TV star Peter McDonald, 鈥渟he does not have full rights over her own body鈥� adds Owen McDonnell, famous for playing a fictional police sergeant on Irish TV.
Staring into the camera, a host of other actors 鈥� from Cillian Murphy, lead in the BBC hit show 鈥淧eaky Blinders,鈥� to Andrew Scott, star of its 鈥淪herlock鈥� series 鈥� continue to deliver short messages in the more than two-minute video.
鈥淲hy should anyone but me decide what happens to my own body?鈥� Murphy asks.
It concludes with Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan鈥檚 blunt appeal: 鈥淧lease, vote yes!鈥�
Irish citizens head to the polls on May 25 to decide whether to alter the eighth amendment of the constitution, which recognizes the equal right to life of the unborn and the mother.
There have already been several referendums related to the issue, the first in 1983 which introduced the amendment after a wide margin voted in favor.
A 1992 ballot approved an update to the constitution stating it did not restrict the freedom to travel to another state for an abortion.
Meanwhile a 2013 change in the law, which was not put to a referendum, allowed for the exemption of mothers whose lives are endangered.
The Catholic Church in Ireland has been voicing its opposition to any change in a series of pastoral letters 鈥� and urging voters to watch YouTube videos celebrating life.
鈥淚t is wrong to terminate life, human life,鈥� wrote Ray Browne, bishop of County Kerry, in one such letter.
鈥淭he right to life of the unborn child is a fundamental right. Abortion is wrong.鈥�
If proponents of change prevail at the ballot, a provision will be added to the Irish constitution allowing for 鈥渢he regulation of termination of pregnancy.鈥�
鈥淗ow could a person not but be sad to see such a phrase inserted in our Constitution?鈥� Browne asked.