Anti-abortion activists have been seen ‘filming patients’ outside a Glasgow sexual health clinic before being chased away by counter demonstrators.
The two men targeted the Sandyford Clinic on Tuesday morning for the third time in recent weeks - sparking fury from pro-choice groups.
One of the ‘preachers’ was quoting Bible passages and other vile chants through a loudspeaker system while also wearing a small black body camera on his chest.
His pal held sickening signs which read “babies are murdered here” and “abortion is murder. Thou shalt not murder”.
Police were called to the scene at around 11am and were told about the camera, which appeared to be aimed at the health centre.
In a video, one counter protestor spoke to a uniformed police officer and said: “That guy has a Go Pro and he is filming women going in and out of a healthcare clinic."
One of the anti-abortion demonstrators then claimed he was assaulted, with the footage caught on his camera, however Police Scotland have confirmed that no arrests were made.
While video recording in a public setting is not against the law, there are concerns it could further intimate women seeking health treatment.
Pro-choice protestors were soon able to drown out the shouts of the two men who went on to leave the area a short time later to chants of “cheerio, cheerio.”
Beth Douglas, 28, who rallied the counter protestors, told the Daily Record: “For the past two months I have been organising counter protests against these two hate preachers outside of Sandyford.
“These are two men that will harass patients going in to get healthcare and most of the time they will wrongly assume most people going into the Sandyford Central Clinic to get an abortion, when the clinic offers a range of medical care.
“Sandyford offers HIV services, contraceptive services, menopause services, rape counselling, it offer trans healthcare, there is a massive sexual health testing programme for LGBT+ people and sex workers and more.
“So people going to Sandyford may feel vulnerable already, they don't need two hate preachers outside to make it worse.
“This is the third time I have had to organise a counter protest like this, meanwhile the Scottish Government's women's health minister is missing in action.
“The emergency summit Nicola Sturgeon said she would chair on abortion still doesn't have a date and the Scottish Government still refuse to back buffer zones.
“The longer the Scottish Government takes to implement buffer zones, the more people will have their right to healthcare restricted by the religious right."
Back Off Scotland, who have been calling 150m buffer zones around clinics that provide abortion services in Scotland since 2020, have also criticised the latest protest.
They tweeted: “How Maree Todd MSP can sit as Women’s Health Minister whilst this goes on and she sits doing nothing is shameful.
“Nicola Sturgeon is allowing it by not appointing a more appropriate women’s health champion.
“Disgraceful and extremely exhausted fighting this fight.”
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has supported calls for buffer zones, added: “This is not counselling or advice. This is harassment and intimidation. This is not ok.
“When will the authorities and the Scottish Government do something to protect women and people accessing abortion healthcare?”
Police Scotland confirmed that no arrests were made during the demonstration while stressing that they must allow for peaceful protests.
A spokesperson said: "Police were made aware of a pre-planned protest that was to take place outside a clinic in Sandyford Place, Glasgow around 11 am on Tuesday, 7 June, 2022.
“No arrests were made and all involved have now left the location.
“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do.
“We have a duty under the European Convention on Human Rights to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter protest balanced against the rights of the wider community."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We strongly support the introduction of buffer zones, and we will continue to explore how the Scottish Parliament can legislate in a way that is effective and capable of withstanding legal challenge.
“Alongside this, the Scottish Government continues to work with partners to make arrangements for a First Minister convened summit to be held on 27 June to discuss abortion rights issues.
“We plan to send out invitations shortly.”
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