A vile anti-abortion group operating in Scotland have launched an online recruitment drive for members to lead protests outside healthcare facilities where women are attending for treatment.
American-based 40 Days for Life are hiring for what has been branded as a 'targeted campaign of harassment' ahead of a series of planned protests at clinics in 2023 that will run from February 22 until April 2.
Earlier this year, we told how Bishopbriggs woman Rose Docherty was recruited by the Texas organisation after members identified her 'through the pro-life grapevine'. Rose was then tasked with running the protests at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
40 Days for Life are now upping their efforts to target women attending abortion clinics across the globe, claiming their actions are a 'life-saving mission', by promoting an online application form to lead their protests on their Twitter account and website.
The group are asking applicants to hand over over $197 for training to hold their 'prayer vigils' and offer access to their online campaign headquarters, leadership coaching emails, resource templates and media assistance.
Applicants are also asked to provide two references, confirm they were not associated with any abortion advocacy groups and confirm their 'religious preference'.
The recruitment drive comes just weeks after the UK Supreme Court upheld a ban on protests outside medical facilities providing abortion services in Northern Ireland. Judges ruled that 'buffer zones' around the clinics are legal and don't interfere with the human rights of pro-life campaigners.
Campaigners and politicians have now slammed 40 Days for Life as 'disgraceful' after the recruitment form emerged online, with many saying they hope a proposed safe access zones bill in Scotland, which is currently making its way through Holyrood, will put a stop to the group's presence outside clinics once and for all.
Back Off Scotland co-founder Lucy Grieve said "It's nothing short of disgraceful that these groups continue to recruit for their targeted campaigns of harassment despite moves taken by all UK nations to put a stop to them.
"We've heard evidence from those affected, and we've also heard the highest court in the land support moves for buffer zones.
"Whilst legislation is progressing to make this harassment illegal in Northern Ireland, England, and Wales, our own legislation here in Scotland is commencing its journey through the parliament.
"It is our hope that Gillian Mackay MSP's bill will pass by the end of 2023, and we hope that the 'recruitment' to these vigils will be stopped once and for all."
Monica Lennon MSP added: “This is a deeply worrying and harmful recruitment drive by the anti-choice campaign. Women and people in Scotland who need access to abortion healthcare, or work in services, are the targets.
“The Scottish Government must do everything possible to uphold safe and legal access to abortion service. It is welcome that the First Minister will lead an abortion healthcare summit in the New Year, building on this summer’s summit.
“Every effort must be made to ensure the safe access zones bill becomes the law in Scotland as soon as possible, building on the unanimous cross-party support it commands in the Scottish Parliament.”
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