Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Six-Week Abortion Ban Amid Controversy

The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The ruling reverses a lower court order that had blocked the law, stating it does not violate fundamental rights under the state constitution. The law includes exceptions for rape, incest, and serious health risks.

Iowa can enforce a ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, the state's highest court ruled on Friday, reversing a lower court order that had blocked the law from taking effect. The 4-3 ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court held that the law does not violate citizens' fundamental rights under the state constitution, rejecting a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The newly revived law, passed in 2023

, bans abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected. That is usually around six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. It makes exceptions for rape, incest and fetal abnormality that a doctor reasonably believes is incompatible with life, and in the event that continuing the pregnancy would create a serious risk of irreversible harm to the woman's body.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)