Campaigners brand 40-day anti-abortion protest ‘disgusting’
Campaigners have criticised a “disgusting” anti-abortion protest outside Scottish maternity hospitals.
The protest, which marks the 40 days of Lent, is expected to continue until April 10.
Small groups of protesters have been seen holding placards outside the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. Campaign group Back Off Scotland labelled the actions “disgusting”.
Co-founder of the group Lucy Grieve said this protest, which usually occurs twice a year in Autumn and around Lent, “seems like a massive resurgence”.
She said: “[There is] an everyday presence at the maternity hospital in Aberdeen, the Glasgow Royal Infirmary – where most of the time the women going there are ending wanted pregnancies that have foetal abnormalities which makes it particularly inappropriate – and also the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.”
The group continues to campaign for 150m buffer zones around abortion clinics where groups are not allowed to protest.
“Wesupporttheideathatpeople have different thoughts and view, it’s not about the morality of abortion here,” Ms Grieve said. “It’s about people being allowed to access healthcare safely and freely, and exercise their legal right to do so.
“This is creating a tangible barriertoaccess.it’stheresponsibility of the government to ensure that people can access these legal and essential medical services.”
Opposition MSPS have supported the group’s calls, with Labour MSP Monica Lennon tweeting: “Women accessing abortion healthcare should be able to do so safely, free from intimidation or harassment.
“[The Scottish Government] needs to step up and introduce national legislation on buffer zones at abortion healthcare centres.”
Liberaldemocratleaderalex Cole-hamilton said: “Women seeking intimate medical care shouldnothavetocrossapicket lineinordertodoso.thisiswhy we need #bufferzones.”
Women’s health minister Maree Todd had said last year that the Scottish Government “doesn’tconsiderthatimposing ablanketbufferzonearoundall abortionclinicsisappropriate”.