Edinburgh abortion clinic set for fresh round of harassment from US religious group
An Edinburgh clinic is set to endure a fresh round of anti-abortion harassment from an American religious group despite new laws designed to prevent protests taking place near clinics.
The Texas-based group, 40 Days for Life, announced online that it will hold a series of "prayer vigils" near Chalmers Clinic in September. The activity is expected to last for 40 days and will commence from September 24 with the last "vigil" to take place on November 2.
The organisation, which claims to represent several hundred volunteers in Scotland, announced the campaign just months after The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) bill became law in Scotland, reports The Daily Record.
Under this act, it is illegal for anybody to hold vigils or protests within 200m of any clinic that provides abortion services.
Instructions on the 40 Days for Life website have advised members to gather on Chalmers Street - opposite the front door of the healthcare clinic in September - which would be well within the buffer zone. The Record contacted the branch in Edinburgh to ask the organisation if it was aware this gathering would be illegal.
Mairi Lucas, who is the group's branch head for the capital, proceeded to claim the guidance on the site is "out of date". We then asked Ms Lucas to clarify that the new meeting point for members that outwith the 200m buffer zone, she refused to confirm.
Speaking to our sister publication, Ms Lucas said: "I am not telling you this information."
The instructions on the group's site continue to ask members to attend Chalmers Street.
MSP Monica Lennon described the planned activity as "nothing short of premeditated intimidation".
The Labour representative for Central Scotland said: 'This is nothing short of premeditated intimidation and harassment. Women should not have to pass anti-abortion campaigners on the way to medical appointments.
'Anti-abortion groups are entitled to their beliefs, but they are not above the law.'
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Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman added: 'Everyone deserves privacy and respect when attending healthcare appointments. These anti-choice protests outside of sexual health clinics and maternity hospitals do nothing but intimidate and distress patients, nurses and doctors.
'The patients and staff do not make decisions on legislation, that is done by politicians. I'd urge anyone who feels the need to protest against sexual health and abortion care, to do so outside the Scottish Parliament.
'For anyone who is affected by these anti-choice protests, I'd urge you to get in touch with the Scottish Greens or the Scottish Government, so that we can consider how to make these spaces even safer.'
The group has been known to harass women outside healthcare facilities offering abortion services across Scotland in recent years.
Repeatedly targeted clinics include those at the Edinburgh Chalmers Street Clinic, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Sandyford Clinic and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
40 Days for life members have spent up to 12 hours a day standing outside holding rosary beads and clutching signs with wording such as 'We can help you' alongside graphic images of fetuses.
Residents in Glasgow told members of the group to "get lost" after a similar "vigil" was held within view of out-patients at the QEUH in March.
Melanie Long, who received medical care at the hospital's maternity unit after previously suffering a miscarriage, told the Record at the time: "The first thing I saw when I opened the curtains this morning were these protestors. I find it extremely distressing. I thought once the buffer zone law came into place we wouldn't have this issue anymore.
"As someone who has had to access those services in the past, I find it absolutely disgusting that these people are out there judging women. They might say that they're trying to be peaceful but they know exactly what they're doing - it's distressing, harassment and it victimises vulnerable people.
"If they want to push their cause, they should do it in parliament."
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the Safe Access Zones Bill, has strongly urged the Scottish Government to consider expanding the size of buffer zones.
Chapman said: 'Buffer zones around these clinics were introduced by my Green colleague Gillian Mackay's Safe Access Zone Act to protect patients and staff, and mostly they are successful in doing so. Unfortunately, many people still have no choice but to walk past groups gathering to protest or hold vigils on the cusp of the zones."
40 Days for Life was set up in 2004 by people protesting at an abortion facility in Texas.
The organisation went on to expand its network through the southern states of America before infiltrating to new countries to become a world-wide group.
Its division in Scotland is thought to be spearheaded by activist Rose Docherty, from Bishopbriggs.
Rose previously told the Record that she was recruited by the group through the "pro-life grapevine".
She said: "They found out about me through the pro-life grapevine.
"They just wanted to know if there was anyone in Scotland and I said I'd be willing to do that and I'd be willing to come out."
In February, a 74-year-old woman became the first person in Scotland to be arrested over an alleged breach of the legislation.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Officers will respond proportionately to reports of anyone breaching Safe Access Zone legislation by engaging with them, explaining the law and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement if necessary.'
The Record also approached NHS Lothian for comment.
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