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Abortion Protest in Dallas, Texas: "Babies Are Murdered Here"
Photo: LM Otero / AP
Following a federal judge's suspension of the restrictive abortion ban in Texas, the state has announced an appeal against the order. "We disagree with the court's decision and have already taken steps to appeal immediately," Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton said Thursday. The day before, a US federal judge temporarily suspended the highly controversial law, which had been in effect since September 1, for a far-reaching ban on abortion in Texas.
Federal judge Robert Pitman upheld a lawsuit brought by US President Biden's government on Wednesday.
Texas law considers this unconstitutional.
This means that clinics can theoretically perform abortions again.
However, they must expect to be sued if a higher court overturns the decision.
The strictest abortion law in the United States prohibits abortions from the point at which the fetus's heartbeat can be determined, i.e. from around the sixth week of pregnancy.
Many women do not even know at this point that they are pregnant.
Even in the event of rape or incest, Texan law does not provide for any exceptions.
The Supreme Court rejected the government's urgent motion
There is also outrage that it is not the Texan authorities that are supposed to enforce the new regulations, but private individuals.
Citizens are encouraged to blacken people who they suspect of assisting women with an abortion after the sixth week.
In addition to abortion clinics and their employees, this could also affect relatives or a taxi driver who has brought a pregnant woman to the clinic.
Whistleblowers will receive $ 10,000 if convicted.
In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled “Roe v.
Wade “enshrined women's right to an abortion.
Opponents of abortion hope this ruling could be overturned after Biden's predecessor Donald Trump appointed three new constitutional judges, moving the court further to the right.
The Supreme Court rejected an urgent motion from Biden's government against the Texas abortion law in early September.
However, the Supreme Court did not cite substantive reasons, only procedural reasons.
tfb / AFP