A lawsuit accused Florida of violating Jews’ religious freedom with its new strict ban on abortion, Reuters reports.
The lawsuit, filed by Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor, a Boyton Beach synagogue, argues that that state’s new 15-week ban violates religious freedom because Jewish law requires the procedure in certain cases.
"For Jews, all life is precious and thus the decision to bring new life into the world is not taken lightly or determined by state fiat," the lawsuit said. "In Jewish law, abortion is necessary if required to protect the health, mental or physical well-being of the women or for many other reasons not permitted (by Florida's law)."
State violation?:
The lawsuit also alleges that the law violates a state constitution provision guaranteeing a right to privacy and an earlier state court ruling guaranteeing a right to abortion under the state constitution.
A group of Florida abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, filed a similar challenge earlier this month.
Florida is one of 11 states where high courts have recognized a right to abortion under the state constitution.
DeSantis vows to defend:
DeSantis signed the bill into law in April.
“We’re here today to protect life. We’re here today to defend those who can’t defend themselves,” he said at the time. “This will represent the most significant protection for life in this state in a generation.”
DeSantis office vowed to defend the law in court.
"Our office is confident that this law will ultimately withstand all legal challenges," a DeSantis spokesman told Reuters.
