Row over Texas abortion law intensifies. Republican Party of Texas compared to Taliban. Texas abortion law has prompted comparisons with the Taliban on social media. The Republican Party of Texas is being criticized as the ‘Taliban wing of the Republican Party’. The Taliban are infamous for their strict interpretation of the Sharia Law to curb women’s rights. Many are citing the law to question the US’ moral right to question the Taliban’s atrocities. Meanwhile, US highest court has allowed Texas abortion law to remain in effect.
But what exactly is Texas abortion law?
The Texas abortion law has been pegged as the “fetal heartbeat bill”. This bill bans abortion at the point of the “first detectable heartbeat” which could happen around six weeks into pregnancy. At least 13 other states with Republican-dominated legislature have adopted the same abortion bans and all were blocked by courts. Democrats have called the law ‘an unconstitutional assault on women’s health’.
Why fetal heartbeat is unreliable?
Modern equipment can detect even a first flutter of electric activity within the cells in an embryo as early as 6 weeks. The actual heart begins to form between the 9 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. Many medical experts have asserted that proponents of abortion ban are relying on medical inaccuracies to push their agendas. Experts argue the Texas law allows too little time for most women to even realise that they are pregnant. The law does not even make exceptions for pregnancy that are a result of rape or incest. It also gives power to ordinary people in enforcing the law. This means anybody can sue any person who “aids or abets”, or even intends to abet an abortion after six weeks.
The party has been called out multiple times for proposing or implementing regressive public policies. They have spoken against enforcing mask mandates in school districts and have backed people carrying gun without permits. Many even accuse the republicans, who have a free hand in the state of enforcing extremism akin to Taliban.