Hearing in Arkansas Anti-abortion Lawsuit on May 17

Challenging Arkansas law on banning abortions after 12 weeks, two groups have filed a suit against the government, reports Reuters.

The law, named as the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act, plans to ban most abortions at around 12 weeks of pregnancy after a fetal heartbeat is detected through standard ultrasounds. The law would come into effect from July.

The lawsuit was filed by Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU Arkansas chapter). The suit states that the 12-week-ban rejects the constitutional right of patients to terminate a pregnancy before the point of viability. It was filed on behalf of two doctors from Arkansas who perform abortions.

It will exclude pregnancy from rape, incest or major fetal conditions or if the  life of the mother is in danger. Licenses of doctors, who violate the law, will be cancelled.

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights spokesperson Kate Bernyk, 11 states including Arkansas have banned abortions at 20 weeks or later. Eight states out of these 11 have implemented the ban: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Alabama, Nebraska and North Carolina. But the courts in Arizona, Georgia and Idaho have blocked the ban.

"It's a clear violation of U.S. Court rulings, dating back 40 years," said Rita Sklar, director of the ACLU of Arkansas.

Reuters reported that Aaron Sadler, spokesman for Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, said the state was expecting the lawsuit. "It is our responsibility to defend state law, and we will do so in this litigation," Sadler said.

The country's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, which operates clinics in Arkansas, is against the law.

Explaining the need for abortion, Jill June, chief executive of Planned Parenthood, said that the law will put the lives of women at risk. "A woman may need an abortion for many different reasons, and she should be trusted to make her own personal private medical decisions."

According to Jerry Cox, president of Family Council of Arkansas, which opposes abortion, the courts will allow the Arkansas measure to stand. "If the state of Arkansas ends up spending public funds to defend a law that protects human life, that's an excellent use of our public dollars."

Arkansas, lead by Republicans, overruled the veto by Democratic Governor Mike Beebe on the controversial measure in March. Then, it was the most restrictive state abortion law in the US.

Following this, North Dakota lawmakers passed a law banning abortion as early as six weeks, reported Reuters. The hearing is scheduled for May 17.