Genetic screening facility picketed

'Go with God, not lab experiments'

SEATTLE (RWN) - The University of Washington's Center for Genetic and Family Screening - the pre-eminent institution in the country for predicting birth outcomes - was the subject of pickets and a somewhat violent protest today.

The institute provides genetic counseling to parents based DNA samples, a concept that has provoked the ire of Muslim fundamentalists for years.

"We believe that Allah makes these decisions and that they should be honored, not studied, stopped or modified," said Mullah Benhal, the leader of Spokane's Islamic community and the most outspoken of the critics of genetic screening.

Benhal gathered about 200 protesters outside the center before the workday began, forcing staff to fight their way through a hostile crowd in order to get to work.

"There I was with my morning coffee and I had to walk through this mob of people chanting 'You dare challenge Allah,' said Stephanie Peters, a genetic counselor at the center. "I didn't say anything, but I really wanted to say 'I help little babies who can't help themselves. What do you do?'"

Genetic screening enables parents and doctors to determine if an unborn baby has an entire range of genetic disorders. Recent advances by the Chinese in the field of in utero treatment have made it possible to remedy such once-feared diseases as Huntington's Disease and autism while the child is still in the womb.

The process flew under society's radar for many years, until movie star Ginger Kabin spoke about it in the popular "Wendy' talk show. Interest in the process skyrocketed and the conservative segment of society took note.

"It alters Allah's plan," said Alan Pitzl, a protestor in front of the clinic. "The health of the mother, the health of the baby, these are all decided ahead of time. To play with that is dangerous and would be anathema to Allah."

Police broke up the protest around 1:30 p.m., some six hours after it started. Some of the protestors resisted, and police reported taking three protestors to the hospital.

"Our names shall be written in blood," a blogger named "FranQur'an" wrote. "We will be back next week and the week after and the week after until people realize genetic screening is a crime against Allah himself."


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