The cultural Iron Curtain in Europe looks to be widening as conservative nationalist Hungary tightens its abortion laws. A new decree means Hungarian women must now listen to a “foetal heartbeat” before they can undergo the procedure. The new decree mandates that healthcare providers provide pregnant women with “a clearly identifiable indication of foetal vital signs” before proceeding. Justifying the move, the Interior Ministry in Budapest said that “nearly two-thirds of Hungarians associate the beginning of a child’s life with the first heartbeat” and that modern equipment can detect heartbeats early in pregnancy to provide “more comprehensive information”.