In response to a Houston Chronicle letter to the editor that criticized a new Texas abortion law, Republican state Rep. Matt Schaefer on Sunday tweeted "FACT: Even the Taliban oppose abortion. #txlege."
The letter came after a story in which an abortion provider sued to stop a law that would allow people to sue health care providers who help anyone have an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
"This law is what we might expect from the lowest intellects in the Taliban, for instance – where the war on women is never-ending," Mary Needham wrote. "Instead we have Texas Republicans wanting to pay a bounty to anyone who tattles on a (woman) who just might need an abortion."
Schaefer's late-night tweet Sunday was roundly criticized on Twitter.
Florida Democratic state Rep. Omari Hardy quote-tweeted Schaefer writing, "FACT: Today's Republicans have a lot in common with the Taliban." Fred Wellman, executive director of the Lincoln Project, tweeted, "I definitely want an American major party aligned with the Taliban."
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Abortion access in Afghanistan is restricted. Women are allowed to have an abortion only if their life is in danger; otherwise they could face punishment of up to five years in prison, the Human Rights Watch reports.
Schaefer is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and has served in Afghanistan.
He spearheaded House Bill 1927, a law that would allow Texas residents to carry handguns without permit if they’re not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun. Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 1927 into law last month.
