An appeals court in El Salvador has upheld a 30-year homicide sentence for a woman who insists she suffered a miscarriage, and did not carry out an abortion.

The ruling has sparked condemnation from women's rights activists like Sara Garcia, who said "once again this judicial system is creating unequal conditions for women."

Evelyn Beatriz Hernandez Cruz was convicted in July of aggravated homicide.

Hernandez says she had been raped and didn't realize she was pregnant. She said she felt pains and passed out during what may have been a miscarriage.

She was charged with homicide for killing the fetus. Abortion is illegal in all situations in El Salvador.

The Associated Press normally doesn't name victims of alleged sexual assault, but Hernandez has spoken publicly about her case.