×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Friday
16
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 12°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

Oklahoma approves US’ most restrictive abortion ban

It prohibits all abortions except to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement

Newsroom May 21 08:58

Oklahoma’s Legislature gave final approval Thursday to another Texas-style anti-abortion bill that providers say will be the most restrictive in the nation once the governor signs it.

The bill is part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights. It comes on the heels of a leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court that suggests justices are considering weakening or overturning the landmark Roe vs Wade decision that legalized abortion nearly 50 years ago.

The bill by Collinsville Republican Rep. Wendi Stearman would prohibit all abortions, except to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement.

“Is our goal to defend the right to life or isn’t it?” Stearman asked her colleagues before the bill passed on a 73-16 vote mostly along party lines.

The bill is one of at least three anti-abortion bills sent this year to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has indicated he’ll sign it. Another Texas-style abortion bill that prohibits the procedure after cardiac activity can be detected in the embryo, which experts say is about six weeks, already has taken effect and has already dramatically curtailed the practice in Oklahoma. Another bill set to take effect this summer would make it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. That bill contains no exceptions for rape or incest.

See Also:

Trans porn company owners sentenced for forcing 7-year-old girl into sexual exploitation

Like the Texas law, the Oklahoma bill would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain abortion. After the U.S. Supreme Court allowed that mechanism to remain in place, other Republican-led states sought to copy Texas’ ban. Idaho’s governor signed the first copycat measure in March, although it has been temporarily blocked by the state’s Supreme Court.

>Related articles

Trump threatens tariffs against those who oppose U.S. plans for Greenland

CIA chief in Venezuela meets with Rodriguez

Ballistic missile strike hits pier in Ukraine

After Texas passed its bill last year, there was a dramatic reduction in the number of abortions performed in that state, with many women going to Oklahoma and other surrounding states for the procedure.

There are legal challenges pending in Oklahoma to both the bill to criminalize abortion and the six-week Texas ban, but the courts have so far failed to stop either measure.

Source: Time

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#abortion#baby's human rights#ban#human rights#law#Oklahoma#usa#world
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

One dead after train–bus collision at the Port of Hamburg – see photos

January 16, 2026

President of Air Traffic Controllers: Another communications blackout possible in the near future

January 16, 2026

Trump threatens tariffs against those who oppose U.S. plans for Greenland

January 16, 2026

X is down, thousands report problems

January 16, 2026

“Her father cut her hair because she asked to go to a hair salon, they never gave her money”: New testimonies about Laura

January 16, 2026

Rama persists after rant at Greek journalist and questions the link between “Greek speakers” and Plato and Aristotle

January 16, 2026

CIA chief in Venezuela meets with Rodriguez

January 16, 2026

Less alcohol and lower speeds with the new Highway Code and strict fines

January 16, 2026
All News

> Politics

Mitsotakis attends the inauguration of the renovated Emergency Department at Red Cross Hospital

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Adonis Georgiadis and Marios Themistokleous, was given a tour of the new Emergency Department facilities by the hospital’s governor – the second phase of the project is expected to be completed in spring 2026

January 16, 2026

Marinakis: Anestidis has no place in a meeting with Mitsotakis; The video with insults crosses the line of decency

January 16, 2026

Gerapetritis: ‘Extension of territorial waters will come, as marine parks and spatial planning’

January 16, 2026

Hydrocarbon contracts in Parliament, Greece as an energy hub with Saudi Arabia and investments in the background

January 15, 2026

Pavlos Marinakis: In principle, agreement for Mitsotakis–Farmers meeting on Monday at noon

January 15, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα