Iowa Governor Signs Controversial Abortion Ban into Law

A controversial law has come into effect in Iowa, banning almost all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This move marks one of the most restrictive policies to be enforced since the national right to abortion access was removed two years ago.

The law allows the procedure until early signs of cardiac activity can be detected in a foetus or embryo, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, foetal abnormalities, and when the mother’s life is in danger. This Republican-enacted ban was initially blocked after its passage last year but was ultimately upheld by the state’s highest court last month.

Before this law, abortions were permitted up to the 20th week of pregnancy in Iowa. The US Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v Wade decision guaranteed the right to an abortion before foetal viability, usually between 24 and 28 weeks, but this was repealed by the court’s new conservative majority nearly half a century later.

Iowa now joins a list of Midwestern states, including Missouri and South Dakota, that have implemented similar restrictions following the overturn of Roe v Wade. This ban is expected to push residents to seek care in neighbouring states with more lenient abortion laws, placing pressure on providers in Illinois and Minnesota.

The state’s Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, who signed the bill into law, praised the decision as “a victory for life.” However, Democrats are rallying support for abortion rights ahead of the November general election, with Vice-President Kamala Harris vowing to restore reproductive rights if elected.

The contentious issue of abortion continues to be a focal point in American politics, with supporters and opponents clashing over individual state rights and women’s reproductive freedoms.