Arizona's Supreme Court has ruled a dormant 1864 abortion law can be enforced in the state. It institutes a near-total ban on abortions, except in cases when the mother's life is in danger.

Arizona

Arizona's Supreme Court has recently reinstated a long-dormant abortion law originally passed in 1864, allowing it to be enforced within the state. This historical statute imposes a near-total prohibition on abortions, permitting them only under the circumstance where the life of the mother is at risk.



Arizona court reinstates abortion ban dating from 1864

The law dates back to 1864, before Arizona was a state, before women had the right to vote and bans nearly all abortions. Already the state's Attorney General says she won't enforce it. No woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that guaranteed abortion rights for decades, anti-abortion groups sought to have the 19th century law revived here, superseding a state ban at 15 weeks. The 1864 law only allows abortions when the mother's life is at risk, no exceptions for rape or incest. Arizona is a crucial swing state in the presidential election, the ruling drawing a sharp rebuke from the White House hoping to galvanize voters on the issue. Millions of Arizonians will soon face an even more extreme and dangerous abortion ban. At the end of the day, it's all about will of the people. This week, Donald Trump tried to defuse the abortion issue for Republicans, saying he would leave it up to states, while also taking credit for ending Roe. Polls show a majority of Americans support some abortion access. This is an incredibly dangerous issue for the Republicans. Any Republican who is running for some form of national seat does not want to be talking about abortion. Many leading Republicans are choosing their words selectively. Arizona's court says its ruling wasn't on abortion rights, rather an interpretation of the law as written, citing a need for a modern law. I am angry. I am angry for myself. I'm angry for my daughter. Pro-choice advocates now pushing to get the right to abortion access on the ballot in Arizona in November, tying this directly to the presidential election. Cameron McIntosh, CBC News, Winnipeg.

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Odesa

Ukraine Invasion

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Turin

Climate Crisis

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Beirut

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Oklahoma

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