South Carolina Becomes 17th US State to Approve 20-Week Abortion Ban

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has signed a bill banning abortions in the state at 20 weeks after fertilization, The Washington Post reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – An exception can only be made and an abortion can be performed at the 20-week mark if the mother’s life is at risk, or if it is determined that the fetus will not survive outside the womb, the newspaper said on Wednesday.

Doctors who violate the new ban will face three years in prison and will be fined up to $10,000.

South Carolina is the 17th US state to approve such a ban. The bill was passed by South Carolina’s legislature last week.

Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United States. According to the US Constitution, abortion is legal but may be restricted by the states’ authorities.