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USA: Abortion bans go into effect in the states of Florida and Mississippi

Florida’s ban on abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy is now in effect after a court on Tuesday rejected a request to temporarily stay the law, while a judge in Mississippi refused to block a near-total abortion ban.

The developments are another setback for women’s rights after the US Supreme Court in late June overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion nationwide.

In Florida, Republican state officials appealed a decision by Judge John Cooper, who had tried to block a ban on abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy.

After the appeal, the judge’s decision was automatically frozen. That means the bill Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis signed in April remains in place. This provides for a ban on almost all abortions after the 15th week from the last menstrual period. Women can have an abortion if their health is threatened or if the fetus suffers from a “fatal malformation”.

Hours later, Judge Debra Halford in Jackson, Mississippi, denied a request by the state’s only abortion clinic to strike down legislation that almost completely bans abortion.

The clinic, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, appealed to the courts against legislation banning abortions after the 6th week of pregnancy. Halford rejected her request.

Mississippi is one of 13 US states that had adopted legislation aimed at banning or restricting abortion that could go into effect after the Supreme Court ruling.

Organizations in both states are expected to appeal the rulings, with lawyers for Florida abortion clinics, the civil rights group ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights vowing to try to “block it once and for all.” ban on abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy.

Florida has long been the go-to state for women from the southeastern U.S. seeking second-trimester abortions, as neighboring states have strict restrictions. In Florida, abortions were allowed up to the 24th week of pregnancy.

SOURCE: APE-ME

Source: Capital

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