Peaceful pro-life demonstrators at abortion facilities in Scotland will be criminalised and hit with massive fines if MSPs back a new law laid before the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

On 5 October, the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament. If passed, it will become a criminal offence for pro-life vigils to take place in the vicinity of abortion facilities in Scotland, and those found in breach could be subject to fines up to £10,000.

‘Safe Access Zones’

The move has been anticipated for some time. Gillian Mackay MSP, the politician responsible for the legislation, carried out a consultation on so called ‘safe access zones’ over a year ago. But the actual text of the Bill was only published yesterday.

There were nearly 12,000 submissions to the consultation with 42% of respondents fully opposed to the proposed legislation. Of those who identified as “professionals with experience in a relevant subject”, 36% were fully opposed; and of those who identified as “academics with expertise in a relevant subject”, 45% were fully opposed. Consultation submissions included testimony from those who attend vigils and stories of women who have been positively impacted by pro-life vigils. Yet, it appears the concerns raised in these submissions had little impact on the content of the Bill.

This Bill is a direct attack on civil rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. It also removes a lifeline for women who want to keep their baby but feel they have no other choice than abortion. Peaceful pro-life vigils have taken place in Scotland without issue for years. If this Bill were to pass, these same people who provide a prayerful witness to women of an alternative to abortion will be treated as criminals.

What will happen if this Bill is passed?

It would be illegal to:

• ‘Influence the decision of another person to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services at the protected premises.’ This would prevent women being offered help outside clinics.
• To cause ‘distress to another person in connection with the other person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services at the protected premises.’ This would prevent peaceful, prayerful vigils from being able to take place.

Anyone taking part in a pro-life vigil in Scotland would be subject to:

• on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (which is £10,000).
• on conviction on indictment, to an unlimited fine.

Infringement on Fundamental Freedoms

Alithea Williams, Public Policy Manager for SPUC, writes:

“This Bill is part of a continued campaign to punish pro-life people for attempting to be present to women in need and to witness to the humanity of the unborn. It would represent a massive overstep, and an infringement on fundamental freedoms.

“The submissions to the consultation prove that there is not a consensus on this topic, and the public and experts have serious concerns about the impact this legislation could have on freedom of speech and assembly, as well as opening the door for religious discrimination. In addition, many submissions acknowledge the important lifeline that pro-life vigils offer to women, who may feel they have no choice other than abortion, perhaps because of pressure from people or circumstances. To criminalise vigils in this way would be to abandon those most vulnerable women.

“We hope that Members of the Scottish Parliament will see sense and vote against this draconian Bill.”

Click here to write to your MSPs to tell them to oppose the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.