Python-equivalent of PHP addslashes/stripslashes functions?

[Leeuw van der, Tim]

Hello,

I'd like to know if there's a Python-alternative to the very convenient PHP
functions addslashes / stripslashes which add cq remove backslashes to
things like ', " characters, so that values from HTML forms can be safely
passed around to other programs, used in SQL statements, etc.

Any pointers?

Thanks in advance,

--Tim