Florida's abortion ban back in effect as state appeals


  • English
  • Arabic

Florida's 15-week ban on abortions is back in effect on Tuesday, after an appeal from the state brought an automatic freeze on a court blocking the restriction.

A judge last week issued an order temporarily striking down the law after reproductive healthcare providers argued that Florida's constitution guarantees a right to abortion.

The state immediately filed its appeal of the order, which put the law back in effect.

Florida's law prohibits women from receiving abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions if the procedure is needed to save the mother's life, prevent serious injury or if the foetus has an abnormality.

It does not grant exception if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest.

The law was similar to the one in Mississippi on which the Supreme Court ruled when it overturned Roe v Wade last month, ending a woman's federal right to an abortion.

A Mississippi court allowed the state's abortion law to take effect on Thursday.

The judge rejected a request from Mississippi's only abortion clinic to temporarily block a law banning most abortions in the state.

In Louisiana, the state's attorney general asked the state Supreme Court to permit an enforcement on a ban on most abortions.

Louisiana was one of several states with a “trigger law” banning the procedure immediately after Roe v Wade was overturned, but this was blocked by a state judge last week following a lawsuit filed by one of the state's abortion clinics.

Tension and anger outside Mississippi's last abortion clinic

Agencies contributed to this report

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: July 05, 2022, 9:02 PM