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"Heartbeat Law" in Texas: US government will not condone attacks on abortion clinics

2021-09-06T20:34:20.110Z


US President Biden had already announced resistance to the tightened abortion law in Texas. Now Justice Minister Merrick Garland announced to sanction possible attacks on clinics and practices.


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Houston women protest the controversial abortion law in Texas

Photo:

Reginald Mathalone / imago images / NurPhoto

Following the entry into force of a highly controversial abortion law in the state of Texas, US Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced that it will consistently punish possible attacks on abortion clinics.

The US federal authorities would be ready to support if a clinic or practice that offers abortion is attacked, Garland promised in a written statement.

A law from 1994 forbade people who offer or use an abortion to prevent the procedure and, for example, use or threaten violence and intimidate those affected, it said.

Deliberate damage to property in practices or clinics that offer abortions is also prohibited.

US government wants to crack down on the Texas law

Garland stressed that since the law came into force, the ministry has consistently taken criminal and civil action in the event of violations and will continue to do so.

He also affirmed that the Justice Department is intensively examining all options to oppose the Texas law and protect women's constitutional rights.

A law has been in force in Texas a few days ago that bans most abortions.

The so-called Heartbeat Bill ("Heartbeat Bill") forbids abortions as soon as the heartbeat of the fetus has been determined.

This can be the case as early as the sixth week of pregnancy.

Many women do not yet know that they are pregnant at this point.

The only exception is for medical emergencies.

Law invites denunciation - clear criticism from Biden

What is unusual about the regulation is that it enables private individuals to take civil action against those who help a woman with an abortion.

This could lead to lawsuits against a number of people - for example, someone driving someone to an abortion appointment, parents paying for an abortion, or health care workers.

Critics - including US President Joe Biden - see the law as an attack on the fundamental rights of women and fear a downright hunt down anyone who supports pregnant women with abortions.

Biden announced that the federal government would immediately examine what it could do to keep women in Texas safe from having access to abortions and to protect them, as well as health workers in the state, from the "bizarre" new regulation.

ngo / dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-09-06

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