Legislation establishing ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics has come into force across Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament passed laws in June to create ‘secure access zones’ of as much as 200m outside abortion facilities.
MSP Gillian Mackay’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill criminalises, amongst other things, peacefully praying and offering help to women in crisis pregnancies.
Jenni Minto, minister for public health and ladies’s health, said, “It is totally unacceptable for ladies to face any unwanted influence, distress or alarm when accessing abortion services.
“With the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act coming into force this week I hope women hear the Scottish government’s clear message that we are going to protect their access to healthcare.
“I thank Gillian Mackay for her vital work in progressing the Act and I’m incredibly grateful to all the ladies and staff and others who contributed to the method.
“The Act is just not an try and restrict freedom of speech or the appropriate to spiritual expression, but to safeguard public health and protect the appropriate of girls to access healthcare without obstruction.
“Individuals who break Safe Access Zone law can now face significant fines, with enforcement being carried out by Police Scotland.”
Breaching the buffer zones carries a positive of as much as £10,000. Protests shall be going down outside the Scottish Parliament today by pro-life group, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).
SPUC said that the brand new law was “illiberal and dangerous”, and “severely infringes upon civil liberties, particularly the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and the flexibility to supply support to pregnant women”.
Pro-life campaigners shall be wearing prison jumpsuits for the protest. SPUC said this was to spotlight the “absurdity” of the restrictions.
SPUC CEO John Deighan said the buffer zones were an “affront to basic freedoms in Scotland” and would deprive vulnerable women of “a way out” of abortion.
“The indisputable fact that someone will be criminalised for praying or offering help to a girl in need is an outrageous and dangerous precedent. SPUC is here to be certain that this sweeping attack on civil liberties doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said.
“Ultimately, buffer zones only protect the abortion industry, not the ladies and unborn children who go through its gates.
“As well as outlawing compassion, buffer zones set a terrible precedent, breaching fundamental rights to free speech and freedom of faith. In England, buffer zones have already led to the arrests individuals silently praying outside abortion facilities.
“Buffer zones have introduced thoughtcrime into Scottish society. SPUC will get up to this assault on our freedoms.”
