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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) — Turkmenistan has passed a law under which all people seeking a marriage license must be tested for HIV.
The law, which was reported by state-controlled media on Wednesday, implies that anyone found to be infected with the virus that is the precursor to AIDS would be denied a marriage license. The reports said the law was enacted "in order to create conditions for forming healthy families and avert the birth of HIV-infected children."
Authoritarian Turkmenistan has given little public information about the extent of HIV infection in the country.
The new law also requires HIV tests for anyone suspected of using narcotics, foreigners seeking work visas, prisoners and blood donors.
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