Democrats in the Arizona legislature, with the help of a handful of Republicans, succeeded in repealing the 1864 law that bans abortion in almost all circumstances in the southwestern state. Fourteen Democratic senators and at least two Republican senators, the minimum number required, voted in favor of repealing this law recently validated by a controversial decision by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Two weeks ago, 29 Democrats and three Republicans secured repeal of the law in the state House of Representatives. All that is missing is the signature of Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs to close this retrograde chapter in the history of this state which has its origins in the 2022 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States repealing the ruling Roe v. Wade on abortion.
The 1864 law states that anyone helping a woman to have an abortion can be sentenced to two to five years in prison. It was adopted when Arizona was still a territory.
After the repeal of the 1864 law, abortion will be permitted in Arizona up to the 15th week of pregnancy. Pro-choice activists want to hold a referendum in November to guarantee a constitutional right to abortion until the fetus is viable.
(AFP Photo/Getty Images)
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