Woman, 74, arrested under abortion protest law in Glasgow
BBC Scotland News
A 74-year-old woman has become the first to establish a buffer outside an abortion clinic under Scottish law.
Arrest near the University of Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow related to the exclusion zone.
Officials removed the sign of the area from the area – the arrested woman held it, which read “Coercion is a crime, speak here, only if you want it”.
Last year, the Abortion Services (Safe Visiting Areas) Act came into effect.
The legislation blocked protests or vigils at 30 clinics that provide abortion services in Scotland.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance targeted the bill last week, Claiming wrongly The Scottish government sent them a letter warning them to pray at home.
First Minister John Swinney said Vance’s statement was “completely wrong”.
The Scottish government said no letters were sent saying people could not pray at home, only the bill covered “intentional or reckless behavior”.
The vice president has been accused of “spreading misinformation” by Scotland’s Greens MSP Gillian Mackay, who proposed the law.
Scottish police said it received a report about protesters near Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, about 14:00.
The troops said officials were still on the scene and inquiries were underway.
PA MediaGillian Mackay said: “The protests outside Queen Elizabeth are totally shameful and I thank the Scottish police for their actions so quickly.
“This intimidation has no status in modern or progressive Scotland. Everyone should get health care without harassment.”
The 40-day life of the anti-abortion group has been advertising near the hospital starting next month.
BBC Scotland News has asked the organization to comment.
McKay added: “I urge others who are planning to protest in the safe access zone to think again because they will be stopped and will have consequences.”
The law in the abortion area is designed to prevent harassment from patients.
It is a criminal offence to act in a buffer that may affect the decisions of women and employees to access services.
It is also a crime to prevent women and employees from entering the clinic or otherwise causing alarms, harassment or distress.
In more serious cases, those who violate the law can be fined up to £10,000 or unlimited.
