A 74-year-old is first in Scotland charged under the new abortion buffer zone law after protesting near a Glasgow hospital.
Officers responded to the hospital and arrested a 74-year-old woman. She was charged for breaking the exclusion zone law in an incident on Hardgate Road. A police spokesperson confirmed the arrest, stating she will be reported to the fiscal.
This charge is the first under the 2024 Abortion Services Act. This act establishes safe access zones, preventing protests near medical facilities. The zones extend 200 meters from 30 locations where terminations take place, and the law came into effect in September.
Gillian Mackay, who introduced the bill, criticized the protesters’ actions, calling the protests outside the hospital shameful. She thanked police for their quick response, stating such intimidation has no place in Scotland and that everyone deserves healthcare without harassment.
The protest followed criticism of JD Vance, Donald Trump’s deputy, who spread misinformation. He claimed letters warned residents of private prayer being illegal and that the government urged reporting thought crimes. He believes free speech is declining in Europe.
Health Secretary Neil Gray called Vance’s claim ludicrous, and the Scottish government stated explicitly it was incorrect. They clarified that private prayer at home is not prohibited, and no letter ever suggested it was.
Mackay urged people to reconsider demonstrating, adding that consequences will follow their actions. She linked the protest to Vance’s misinformation, emphasizing that standing up for reproductive rights means acting against those undermining them.