Governor Signs Bill Allowing Third Parties to Report Abortions
Abortion rights supporters hold signs advocating for abortion rights in front of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Photo by AP, Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Kevin Stitt, the Republican Governor of Oklahoma, USA, signed an ultra-strict abortion ban on the 25th (local time) that prohibits abortion surgery after fertilization regardless of the number of months of pregnancy.
According to major foreign media such as CNN, Governor Stitt said in a statement that day, "As governor, I promised to sign all abortion-related bills that protect life, and I am proud to keep that promise today."
The new abortion ban in Oklahoma takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature. The bill allows third parties who assisted in an abortion procedure to file lawsuits demanding at least $10,000 (12.68 million KRW), excluding legal fees.
However, exceptions are made to allow abortion in cases of emergency, pregnancy due to sexual assault, or incest.
In response, the New York-based abortion rights advocacy group, the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), issued a statement saying, "We will immediately file a lawsuit to block the enforcement of this law."
CRR criticized, "Oklahoma has become the only state to ignore the 'Roe v. Wade ruling,' which the U.S. Supreme Court recognized as the right to abortion in 1973, while it is still valid."
Other states where Republicans hold the majority seats are also showing movements to enact strong abortion bans, assuming that the Supreme Court will soon overturn the 'Roe v. Wade ruling.'
According to a leaked Supreme Court document reported by the U.S. political media Politico on the 2nd, conservative-leaning justices who hold the majority in the Supreme Court are known to intend to overturn the 49-year-old ruling and allow states to enact their own abortion-related laws.
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