MSP: Home Prayer Could Be Criminal Under Abortion Law

Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay has sparked controversy by suggesting that praying at home could be deemed illegal under the Abortion Services Act (Scotland) 2024, depending on who might see the prayer from outside. During an interview on BBC Scotland's Scotcast, Mackay acknowledged that 'performative' prayer within 200 meters of an abortion clinic could potentially violate the law, which aims to restrict protests near such facilities. This admission came after U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized the law, claiming it exemplifies the erosion of free speech in Europe and warned that residents in buffer zones could face legal repercussions for private prayers. While Mackay dismissed Vance's portrayal of the law as 'absolute nonsense', she conceded that it could theoretically apply if someone was visibly praying at a window. The law was enacted to curb anti-abortion demonstrations, and its implications have raised significant concerns about free speech and individual rights. Critics argue that the legislation could lead to viewpoint discrimination and stifle personal expressions of belief.