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Governor Phil Bryant has signed one of the country's most restrictive laws in relation to abortion
The Mississippi governor has signed a law banning abortion after detection of a fetal heartbeat, which lasts about six months after the start of the pregnancy.
The law, which becomes one of the most restrictive in the United States, should be challenged in court before it comes into effect in July.
Critics say that the intention of the ban is "to ban the procedure even before most women know that they are pregnant."
This comes amidst several new restrictions on abortion among conservative states.
"We think this shows the deep respect and desire of the Mississippians to protect the sanctity of this unborn life as much as possible," Governor Phil Bryant said after signing Senate Bill 2116 on Thursday.
He added that he and other Republican politicians are "haunted by the hundreds of thousands of murdered babies across the country" each year.
A ban on abortions after 15 weeks was passed in Mississippi in November 2018, but was almost immediately blocked by a judge who later overturned the law, claiming that she "unequivocally violated" the constitutional right of women to a abortion.
- US judge blocks ban on abortion in Mississippi
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Mississippi critics say the bill is likely to be overturned and the state squanders money by organizing a legal defense.
Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves, who also backed the bill, said that the state would pay "whatever it costs to defend this lawsuit because I care about the unborn".
The only Republican in the House, which would be the most male dominated state in the country, voted against the bill.
Representative Missy McGee told Clarion Ledger, "I can not support legislation that makes such a tough and definitive decision for other women."
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