Abortion censorship zone residents may face prosecution for engaging in pro-life activities in the privacy of their own home, the Scottish Government has warned.
In a letter seen by The Daily Telegraph, householders near an abortion centre in Edinburgh were told that the provisions of the Abortion Services Act (Scotland) 2024 also apply to private dwellings.
Passed into law by MSPs in June, the Act blocks any pro-life witness within 200 metres of abortion centres.
Unlimited fine
The letter states that residents could be in breach of the new law if they do “anything” to try and “influence someone’s decision to access, provide or facilitate” abortions, or that would “cause harassment, alarm, or distress” to abortion centre staff or clients.
It continues: “In general, the offences apply in public places within the safe access zones.
“However, activities in a private place (such as a house) within the area between the protected premises and the boundary of a zone could be an offence if they can be seen or heard within the zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.”
The Scottish Government warns that residents deemed to have violated the restrictions could face an unlimited fine.
‘Excessive’
Michael Robinson of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said the letter suggests people could be prosecuted for “displaying a Bible verse saying all life is sacred in their window”, or even praying in their front room “if they are seen or heard from the street”.
He added: “Most ordinary people, regardless of their views on abortion, would find it excessive and wrong to threaten individuals with hefty fines for praying in their own homes.”
Justifying the Scottish Government’s action, the law’s architect Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay said the matter “was given detailed and careful consideration during the passage of the bill at committee stage”.
“In other countries where private dwellings are excluded from buffer zone legislation, some private dwellings have been used to display posters and hand out leaflets which have fundamentally undermined the law”.
Freedoms eroded
Last week, Adam Smith-Connor was found guilty for silently praying near an abortion centre in England.
Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court ruled that the army veteran had breached a censorship zone prohibition against “prayer and acts of disapproval”, because he had bowed his head and clasped his hands.
Mr Smith-Connor has been ordered to pay prosecution costs of £9,000 and faces sentencing if convicted of further related offences in the next two years.
Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel at religious liberty group Alliance Defending Freedom UK, which is supporting the case, added: “We can hardly sink any lower in our neglect of basic fundamental freedoms of free speech and thought. We will look closely at the judgment and are considering options to appeal”.
More restrictions
National censorship zones are shortly due to be imposed across England and Wales, criminalising prayer and offers of help to pregnant women outside abortion centres.
From 31 October, people could receive an unlimited fine for “anything that intentionally or recklessly influences someone’s decision to use abortion services, obstructs them, or causes harassment or distress” within 150m of buildings where abortions are carried out.
Similar restrictions are also in force across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
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