Glasgow’s anti-abortion protests

Preaching Hate, Blocking Healthcare: 40 Days for Life Hits Glasgow

Largely ignored by most, “protestors” continue to congregate outside hospitals in opposition to basic healthcare. “40 Days for Life is a campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.” You Call It Prayer. We Call It Harassment.

Their “peaceful” displays aim to dissuade women from making informed healthcare choices for themselves, through harassment, heckling, and religious bigotry. Their international campaign has unfortunately extended into the city of Glasgow, as anti-abortion protestors have gathered outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, promising not to leave until the commencement of Lent on 13 April.

Along with many women, I have resorted to emergency contraceptive and sexual healthcare at many points in my life. It is, after all, my right to do so. To say that these innocent protests do not affect policy and the rights of women in Scotland is undoubtedly false. Upon receiving Levonorgestrel, or more commonly known as the Morning-After Pill, I was sternly warned about the changing political climate in the NHS by the pharmacist. I was informed about increasing vigilance and investigations around abortion in England and how this attitude is beginning to seep through the border. 

The pharmacist in the St Enoch Centre preached about more permanent forms of birth control, such as the IUD coil which lasts for up to 8 years, protecting women from the evolving political climate surrounding birth control in the future. Not only legally but also mentally- allowing them the peace of not being impacted by campaigns like 40 Days for Life as they attempt to limit access to NHS services. 

The continuance of permitting these groups a space can be described in one word: dangerous.

The question is whether Scotland will follow after conservative nations such as Poland and the US. For now, Abortion remains legal in Scotland under the Abortion Act 1967, for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, provided specific conditions are met, including the approval of two doctors.

Recent attempts at safeguarding from the Abortion Services Act 2024 has failed to protect women from the 40 Days for Life campaign. The legislation states that anyone within the 200-meter safe zone attempting to influence, prevent, or cause “harassment, alarm or distress” to those entering the building will be arrested. Yet only one “protester” has been arrested thus far… 

40 Days for Life believes they provide an educational space about the “tragic reality of abortion.” It also serves as a call to “repentance for those who work at the abortion centres,” yet within the legislated buffer zones, it is a criminal offence to behave in ways that could influence the decisions of women and staff to access services. 

40 Days for Life, however, continues to use megaphones and speakers to abuse service users and staff, says Gillian Mackay, the Scottish Green Party MSP who introduced the bill at the Scottish Parliament in 2023. In the same year, Mackay was accused of being “vindictive” by the very activists that demand “repentance” from women seeking healthcare. 

The group pride themselves in the blocking of healthcare, boasting that they have led to 162 healthcare providers who offer abortions services closing and leading to 268 healthcare workers quitting as a direct result of their actions. Definitely not reading the room. Or the law. An ACLU spokesperson describes 40 Days for Life as the "greatest threat to choice" in America- a fact that 40 Days for Life have delighted in. But can they influence the Scots? 

With polls suggesting Scotland as overwhelmingly pro-choice, there has been no attempt to shut down the protest despite apparent breaches of the law. The continuance of permitting these groups a space can be described in one word: dangerous.

With God's grace, this movement will halt until they find a legitimate Bible passage which supports their unfounded claims. So… indefinitely?

Published 15 April 2025