News from Europe

Scotland is about to ban pro-life gatherings near abortion clinics

Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, has pronounced in favor of the legislation meant to limit pro-life activity around abortion clinics, which could lead to the creation of abortion clinic "buffer zones" across Scotland.

 

A national debate on the topic began after a backlash against prayer vigils outside the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow. Following this event, Gillian Mackay, an MSP for the Green Party, launched a bill to implement 150m “buffer zones” around abortion clinics, which would criminalize by up to two years in prison, anyone who addressed the women going to the clinic (within the buffer zone), with the purpose of trying to convince them otherwise.

Nicola Sturgeon said that she finds “what is happening outside hospitals and outside the Sandyford completely and utterly unacceptable”. Therefore, she is planning to organize a summit to address this problem, expressing her commitment to finding “solutions as quickly as possible”.

She further added, “and lastly repeat my call to those who want to protest against abortion to come and do it outside this parliament where the laws are made and leave women alone and stop trying to intimidate them.”

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is urging the government to not impose this ban, claiming that “those who turn up near to the locations where abortions are carried out, to offer prayer and help, do so with the greatest compassion and sensitivity”.

Source: scottishlegal.com

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