An anti-abortion group has been branded “disgusting” and told “you don’t care about the women” as it staged a prayer vigil near a maternity hospital.
A woman who lives nearby catigated members of the 40 Days For Life group as they prayed and held up signs close to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
According to the Glasgow Herald, the campaigners were outside the 200-metre abortion buffer zone in place around the hospital’s maternity unit but are still visible on one of the main approaches to it via Shieldhall Road. They are planning a series of vigils from March 5 until April 13.
But on Wednesday, Ms El Johnstone crossed the road from her home to confront the group, telling them: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Referring to the hospital, she said: “You have no idea what the women there have gone through or are going through. You do not know. You have no respect for the women, you don’t care about the women.”
Babies born and unborn pictured with their mothers.
Ms Johnstone, who has experience of miscarriage, said: “I woke up this morning and went to have my breakfast and could see this from my bedroom window. This has upset me so much.
“So imagine if you were going through a horrible, horrible decision in your life, and you’re faced with this [protest].
“You can pray in your church. You can pray in your houses. You do not need to come and pray outside a healthcare facility and upset everybody who’s going there.”
She said the buffer zone should be expanded so campaigners cannot be in the vicinity of the hospital.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the abortion buffer zone law which was passed in the Scottish Parliament last year, says it will face a “real test” during the protests.
Last month, a 74-year-old woman became the first person in Scotland to be arrested over an alleged breach of the legislation.
Gillian Mackay MSP was behind the buffer zone legislation “I urge anyone else who is planning to protest to look at the testimonies from people who have had to endure gauntlets of graphic banners and ask themselves if they really want to be responsible for causing even more pain and upset.”
Earlier, an organiser for 40 Days for Life, which began in Texas, pledged not to breach the law.
Mary Gilroy said: “The 40 Days for Life prayer group will not be operating within the buffer zone but will instead pray for help and protection for mothers and their unborn babies from a 200-metre distance from the abortion facility.
“We invite anyone who wants to chat to us about support for continuing their pregnancy to feel free to do so.
“In a nation like Scotland, it should never be illegal to pray or to have a consensual conversation.”
Terrible thing abortion. So emotive, the destruction of a life, and for the women making the decision it is a decision that they will have to live with all of their life.
On balance, I think the buffer zones are a necessary thing. Society has to fall down one way or another and these women having made their decision, need to be protected. But abortion is not the only harrowing issue facing us as we debate legislation to facilitate end of life termination.