Emma is passionate about her beliefs regarding abortion and is now grappling with the fear of potential arrest for simply expressing her views - whether through her T-shirt, her meetings, or even her silent prayers.
As a devout Catholic and trustee of a pro-life activism group, she regularly hosts planning meetings at her flat in Edinburgh. On her daily commute, she often prays with rosary beads while passing the abortion facility near Chalmers Hospital.
On October 4, Emma received a letter from the Scottish government that began with “Dear Resident.” The letter informed her that her home, due to its proximity to the hospital, is now classified as an abortion censorship zone.
The recently enacted “Safe Access” law criminalizes any actions within 200 meters of an abortion facility that could “influence” a person’s decision regarding abortion. Emma learned that even activities in her own home could be deemed illegal if they are perceived or overheard within this zone, whether done intentionally or recklessly.
The letter included a chilling note: citizens are encouraged to report anyone they suspect of breaking the law, complete with instructions on how to do so.
In November 2022, Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and veteran, found himself under scrutiny from local authorities in Bournemouth, a town on England's south coast. The city had recently implemented an abortion censorship zone, and Adam's alleged offense was quietly praying for three minutes just 50 meters from an abortion clinic.
When council officers approached him, they asked, “What is the nature of your prayer?” Adam responded candidly, saying, “I am praying for my son who is deceased,” referencing the unborn child he and his then-girlfriend chose to abort two decades earlier.
* The Free Press contributed to this article.
