Glorification of freedom of speech: After Scotland, similarly discriminatory regulations will be introduced in England and Wales.
At the end of September, the Scottish Parliament, with the support of 118 MPs voted for the Safe Zones Scotland Act , which prohibits any anti-abortion demonstration or any activity within a 200-meter radius of clinics that could affect women intending to have an abortion or health workers assisting in the operation, especially fetuses may change their views on his murder.
The law, which is extremely discriminatory and indirectly affects the position of women due to the effect of abortion on women's mental health, is the brainchild of a Scottish Green representative named Gillian Mackay, who called the day of the law's entry into force "crucial for reproductive rights and health care in Scotland" . Mackay was not only interested in the widest possible use of abortion, but apparently silencing dissent was at least as important to him:
"we will work with the Scottish Government to ensure that patients and staff know exactly where protesters can and cannot be, so that they can report any activity that is against the law".
What is particularly shocking about the new regulation is that within the 200-meter "safety zone", not only on the open street, but also in private homes, any act deemed offensive by abortion supporters can be classified as a crime. In one such zone in Edinborough, the authorities sent out letters to residents warning that they could face criminal charges even for acts committed in their own homes.
"Activities carried out in a private environment (for example, a house) that fall between the protected buildings and the outer border of the security zone may be considered a violation if they are visible or can be seen within the zone and there is intent or negligence during the commission"
– the guide details.
Acts that seriously violate the zone can result in a fine of 10,000 pounds (nearly HUF 4.8 million), but according to English news portals, the limit for fines for the most serious acts is the sky. All of this can be imposed for prayers and sermons in private homes, or even for pro-life quotations displayed in windows, if anyone dares to disturb an ardent supporter of abortion with these activities.
A young woman told the Telegraph:
"As a Christian, I pray regularly. It is quite shocking that this can be considered a crime, even if I do it in the catchment area of my own home”.
Of course, the new law did not escape the attention of pro-life organizations either. Michael Robinson of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said:
“This ominous and profoundly Orwellian guidance suggests that the Safe Zone Act can be used to control and regulate religious activities at home […] Most ordinary people, whatever they think about abortion, will find it excessive and wrong to impose hefty fines they are threatened for praying at home”.
However, it seems that what the average person thinks will not matter in Scotland or elsewhere: according to the Telegraph, similar regulations will be introduced in England and Wales at the end of October.
Featured image: Illustration/Pixabay
