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| North Dakota state senate approves strict new abortion legislation | North Dakota state senate approves strict new abortion legislation |
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| North Dakota is on course to introduce the most stringent restrictions on abortion in the US after the state senate on Friday approved a ban on terminations as early as six weeks into pregnancy. | North Dakota is on course to introduce the most stringent restrictions on abortion in the US after the state senate on Friday approved a ban on terminations as early as six weeks into pregnancy. |
| The measure would prevent procedures if a foetal heartbeat can be detected by doctors. In effect this would ban most abortions – a move pro-choice campaigners described as "dangerous". | The measure would prevent procedures if a foetal heartbeat can be detected by doctors. In effect this would ban most abortions – a move pro-choice campaigners described as "dangerous". |
| The bill needs only the signature of North Dakota's Republican governor Jack Dalrymple to become law. He generally opposes abortion, but has not publicly stated whether or not he will enact the legislation. | The bill needs only the signature of North Dakota's Republican governor Jack Dalrymple to become law. He generally opposes abortion, but has not publicly stated whether or not he will enact the legislation. |
| Friday's vote in the state senate came with little debate and followed another measure that would make it illegal to carry out abortions based on gender or genetic defects such as Down syndrome. | Friday's vote in the state senate came with little debate and followed another measure that would make it illegal to carry out abortions based on gender or genetic defects such as Down syndrome. |
| Taken as a whole, the measures would put on the North Dakota statute the most restrictive abortion laws of any state, going further than a bill passed in Arkansas earlier this month that outlaws abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy. | Taken as a whole, the measures would put on the North Dakota statute the most restrictive abortion laws of any state, going further than a bill passed in Arkansas earlier this month that outlaws abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy. |
| Under the latest measure, doctors would face a felony charge if found to have carried out a termination after a heartbeat is detected. It could result in a five-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine. | Under the latest measure, doctors would face a felony charge if found to have carried out a termination after a heartbeat is detected. It could result in a five-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine. |
| But the legislation does not specify how a foetal heartbeat is to be recorded. | But the legislation does not specify how a foetal heartbeat is to be recorded. |
| Opponents of the bill claim that the law is an attempt to force the closure of the state's only abortion clinic. Both the heartbeat bill and the measure outlawing terminations based on sex selection or genetic abnormalities were introduced to the state assembly by Republican representative Bette Grande, a fierce critic of the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo, the city she represents. | Opponents of the bill claim that the law is an attempt to force the closure of the state's only abortion clinic. Both the heartbeat bill and the measure outlawing terminations based on sex selection or genetic abnormalities were introduced to the state assembly by Republican representative Bette Grande, a fierce critic of the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo, the city she represents. |
| Women's right groups have criticised the measures and called on Dalrymple to refuse to sign them into law. | Women's right groups have criticised the measures and called on Dalrymple to refuse to sign them into law. |
| "We urge the governor to veto this dangerous ban and to take the complex and deeply personal decision out of the hands of politicians and put it back in the hands of a woman, her family and doctor, where it belongs," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. | "We urge the governor to veto this dangerous ban and to take the complex and deeply personal decision out of the hands of politicians and put it back in the hands of a woman, her family and doctor, where it belongs," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. |
| He added: "It is time lawmakers put a stop to extreme restrictions like these and the one recently passed by the Arkansas legislature. In America, no woman, no matter where she lives, should be denied the ability to make this deeply personal decision." | He added: "It is time lawmakers put a stop to extreme restrictions like these and the one recently passed by the Arkansas legislature. In America, no woman, no matter where she lives, should be denied the ability to make this deeply personal decision." |
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