The strict abortion law in the US state of Iowa came into effect on Monday (Jul 29). The law prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many women know they are pregnant.

The strict abortion law in the US state of Iowa came into effect on Monday (Jul 29). The law prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many women know they are pregnant. Iowa joins more than a dozen other states with restrictive abortion laws following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Now, across the United States, four states ban abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, and 14 states have near-total bans at all stages of pregnancy, a report by the news agency Associated Press on Monday said. A look at the legislation The abortion law in Iowa was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in a special session in 2023, but a legal challenge was immediately filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic. Also read | Iowa abortion ruling: State Supreme Court lets strict law go into effect The law was in effect for just a few days before a district judge temporarily blocked it, a decision Governor Kim Reynolds appealed to the state’s high court. In June this year, the Iowa Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling reiterated that there was no constitutional right to an abortion in the state and ordered the hold be lifted. The law prohibits abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, which is roughly at six weeks. There are exceptions in cases of rape, incest, foetal abnormality, or when the life of the mother is in danger. Previously, abortion in the state was legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. The state's medical board had defined standards of practice for adhering to the law earlier this year, though the rules did not outline disciplinary action or how the board would determine non-compliance. Clinics offering in-person abortion procedures Representatives from Planned Parenthood and Emma Goldman told the Associated Press that three abortion clinics in two cities of Iowa offer in-person abortion procedures and would continue to do so before cardiac activity is detected. Also watch | Trump calls Harris's abortion stance means 'execution' of babies × The representative from Planned Parenthood said that a law based on cardiac activity was tricky, adding, "We don’t necessarily have plans to cut people off at a certain gestational age." (With inputs from agencies)

US: Six-week abortion ban in Iowa goes into effect

The Supreme Court of the US state of Iowa said on Friday (June 28) that the state's strict abortion law was legal. According to American media, the Supreme Court told a lower court to dissolve a temporary block on the law and allow Iowa to ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

The Supreme Court of the US state of Iowa said on Friday (June 28) that the state's strict abortion law was legal. According to American media, the Supreme Court told a lower court to dissolve a temporary block on the law and allow Iowa to ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The 4-3 ruling is a win for Republican lawmakers. With this ruling, Iowa joins more than a dozen other states with restrictive abortion laws following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, a report by the news agency Associated Press said. A reiteration by the Iowa SC Until the lower court follows through on the high court’s instruction, abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. It was unclear when the lower court would take action, the report said. Also read | US Supreme Court allows emergency abortion access in Idaho for now It added that currently, 14 states have near-total bans at all stages of pregnancy, and three ban abortions at about six weeks. On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court reiterated that there was no constitutional right to abortion. Celebrating the top court's decision, Iowa's Governor Kim Reynolds said, "I’m glad that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa." However, the court's Chief Justice Susan Christensen criticised the decision. “Today, our court’s majority strips Iowa women of their bodily autonomy by holding that there is no fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy under our state constitution. I cannot stand by this decision,” Chief Justice Christensen said in a statement. Are there any exemptions to the law? There are limited circumstances under the Iowa law that would allow for abortion after six weeks of pregnancy: These are: 1) Rape, if reported to law enforcement or a health provider within 45 days. 2) Incest, if reported within 145 days. 3) If the fetus has a fetal abnormality “incompatible with life”; or if the pregnancy is endangering the life of the patient. 'Ruling will force women...' Candace Gibson, director of state policy at the Guttmacher Institute, an organisation that advocates for abortion access, said the ruling will force women seeking abortions to either leave Iowa, “navigate a self-managed abortion,” or carry an unwanted pregnancy to term. In a statement, Gibson said, "Upholding this six-week ban in Iowa is a shocking blow to Iowans’ reproductive autonomy." (With inputs from agencies)

Iowa abortion ruling: State Supreme Court lets strict law go into effect

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US: Six-week abortion ban in Iowa goes into effect

Iowa abortion ruling: State Supreme Court lets strict law go into effect