EGN NEWS DESK
Legislation establishing ‘buffer zones’ round abortion clinics has come into pressure throughout Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament handed laws in June to create ‘secure entry zones’ of as much as 200m outdoors abortion services.
MSP Gillian Mackay’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill criminalises, amongst different issues, peacefully praying and providing assist to ladies in disaster pregnancies.
Jenni Minto, minister for public well being and ladies’s well being, mentioned, “It is totally unacceptable for girls to face any undesirable affect, misery or alarm when accessing abortion companies.
“With the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act coming into pressure this week I hope ladies hear the Scottish authorities’s clear message that we’ll defend their entry to healthcare.
“I thank Gillian Mackay for her very important work in progressing the Act and I’m extremely grateful to all the ladies and employees and others who contributed to the method.
“The Act is just not an try to limit freedom of speech or the best to spiritual expression, however to safeguard public well being and defend the best of ladies to entry healthcare with out obstruction.
“Individuals who break Safe Access Zone regulation can now face important fines, with enforcement being carried out by Police Scotland.”
Breaching the buffer zones carries a advantageous of as much as £10,000. Protests might be happening outdoors the Scottish Parliament immediately by pro-life group, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).
SPUC mentioned that the brand new regulation was “intolerant and harmful”, and “severely infringes upon civil liberties, significantly the rights to free speech, peaceable meeting, and the power to supply help to pregnant ladies”.
Pro-life campaigners might be wearing jail jumpsuits for the protest. SPUC mentioned this was to focus on the “absurdity” of the restrictions.
SPUC CEO John Deighan mentioned the buffer zones have been an “affront to primary freedoms in Scotland” and would deprive weak ladies of “a manner out” of abortion.
“The truth that somebody will be criminalised for praying or providing assist to a lady in want is an outrageous and harmful precedent. SPUC is right here to make sure that this sweeping assault on civil liberties doesn’t go unnoticed,” he mentioned.
“Ultimately, buffer zones solely defend the abortion business, not the ladies and unborn kids who cross via its gates.
“As properly as outlawing compassion, buffer zones set a horrible precedent, breaching elementary rights to free speech and freedom of faith. In England, buffer zones have already led to the arrests individuals silently praying outdoors abortion services.
“Buffer zones have launched thoughtcrime into Scottish society. SPUC will stand as much as this assault on our freedoms.”
