[JURIST] Iran's Guardian Council [BBC backgrounder], the legislative watchdog panel composed of six lawyers and six Islamic clerics, Monday rejected a bill that would have allowed abortion during the first four months of pregnancy when the mother's life was endangered or a child would be born with a severe handicap which would financially burden the family. The bill had passed [AFP report] the conservative Majlis [official website], Iran's Parliament, in April. The legislation was expected to help the growing problem of underground abortions in Iran [backgrounder]. Both Iran's Parliament and Guardian Council have a history of rejecting bills extending women's rights. Reuters has more.