Texas abortion: Judge temporarily blocks enforcement of law

A US judge has temporarily blocked a controversial new law in Texas that effectively bans women from having an abortion in the state.

District Judge Robert Pitman granted a request by the Biden administration to prevent any enforcement of the law while its legality is being challenged.

The law was put forward and approved by Republican politicians in Texas.

The White House praised the ruling as an important step to restoring women’s constitutional rights.

Judge Pitman, of Austin, wrote in a 113-page opinion that, from the moment the law came into effect on 1 September, “women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution”.

“This court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right,” he said.