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An opponent of the controversial law demonstrates in Austin, Texas
Photo: Bob Daemmrich / imago images / ZUMA Wire
The controversial heartbeat law in Texas remains in place.
An appeals court ruled in favor of the Republican government of Texas on Thursday evening.
An appeal by the US Department of Justice against the abortion law was rejected.
The appellate court had already ruled the matter provisionally last week.
In Texas, abortions are now prohibited by law from the point at which the fetus's heartbeat can be detected, 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 regulation is considered the strictest abortion law in the United States.
At the beginning of October, a US federal judge temporarily suspended the highly controversial law, which had been in force since September 1.
He upheld a lawsuit brought by US President Biden's administration.
Now the legal tug-of-war has been decided in favor of the Texas government for the time being.
According to the appellate court, the heartbeat law should remain in effect depending on further urgent proceedings.
It is considered likely that they will come: The White House is expected to challenge the appeals court's decision again in the US Supreme Court.
The Ministry of Justice had not yet commented on the appeal court's decision.
Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious cases
When it comes to Texan law, there is a particular outrage that it is not the Texan authorities that are supposed to enforce the new regulations, but private individuals.
Citizens are encouraged to blackmail people they suspect of helping 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.
