Grandmother arrested for abortion sign speaks out as UK may expand anti-speech zones

A grandmother in the U.K. who was arrested for holding a sign outside an abortion clinic is speaking out against what she sees as an attack on free speech. Rose Docherty, 74, was arrested in Glasgow, Scotland near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in February for holding a sign that read: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk if you want.”

Docherty was the first person to be arrested and charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, which went into effect in September, the BBC reported. This law prohibits any protests or vigils from taking place within 200m or 656ft of 30 clinics offering abortion services in Scotland. The law specifies that the Safe Access Zone could be extended if deemed appropriate.

After Docherty’s arrest, Gillian Mackay, the Green Party parliamentarian responsible for introducing the buffer zones legislation, suggested that the Scottish government consider expanding the area of prohibition on “influence” outside hospitals, according to ADF International, a Christian legal advocacy group.

Docherty has rejected a formal warning from the Crown Office and is waiting to find out what action may now be taken against her. In her first broadcast interview since her arrest, she told the BBC that she had “no reason to regret” the incident, noting it was an “alarming” and “surreal” experience. She maintained that she had read the law and believed her actions did not violate the legislation.

“I gave consideration to what I was doing…I looked at the law and saw what it said I couldn’t do, and thought, OK, well, this is what I can do…I can offer to listen, and if anyone wants to come and speak to me, they can do so, only if they want to come and speak with me,” Docherty said.

She expressed her willingness to go to prison over the offense, emphasizing her belief that the government aims to eliminate any opposition to abortion. Docherty stated, “It seems the authorities would still try to crack down harshly and unfairly on individuals because the government simply disagree with their point of view. This is unjust – of course, there should be laws against harassment, and we all condemn such behavior. But merely offering conversations near a hospital is not a crime.”

Dr. Greg Irwin, a doctor at the QEUH, was pictured confronting a group of protesters in February 2023, stating that they “cause emotional upset to patients, but also to staff members.” Groups have been protesting outside the hospital for 10 years, leading to the passing of the Safe Access Zones Act.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, another pro-life activist, was arrested twice in Birmingham for silently praying without any signs near an abortion facility within a buffer zone. She was later awarded compensation for wrongful arrests.

The U.K. has faced criticism for its alleged clampdown on free speech, with several individuals investigated and arrested for social media posts. The situation has drawn international attention, prompting concerns about the erosion of free speech rights in the country.