Headline snip reading "Scottish women confront anti-abortion protesters 'inside buffer zone'". Two video stills show a young women on the ground with two men surrounding her.

Scottish Family Party protest inside buffer zone in Aberdeen

March 11, 2025

Reproductive Rights

Scottish Family Party members have been protesting inside a safe access zone in Aberdeen.

In a video shared to their X account, the hard right party showed footage of an evening light show and protest held in Aberdeen to “commemorate 18,000 lives lost to abortion last year.” The protest took place at Mercat Cross, just within the southern edge of the boundary of the buffer zone around Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village.

At one point in the video, a young woman approaches and removes a placard from the display. The next frame shows her on the ground surrounded by two men, one of whom snatches the placard out of her hands.

Speaking to The National, who reported on the story, our CEO Fraser Sutherland said:

“This may well be an attempt by the Scottish Family Party to test the limits of the new safe access zones law by placing themselves at the edge of a designated buffer zone and protesting outside clinic opening hours. However, buffer zones are in force 24 hours a day, and if protests can be seen or heard within a buffer zone, police have the power to move them on.

“Groups such as the Scottish Family Party are currently desperate to give the impression that their voices are being silenced. In fact, they are free to protest against abortion anywhere in the country except for the entrances to abortion clinics. Buffer zones are a proportionate and humane measure that protect freedom of speech while ensuring the right to access healthcare free from intimidation, shaming, and harassment.”

Our Policy and Campaigns Officer offered a statement to The Scotsman, who also reported the news:

“It is likely that the Scottish Family Party knew fine well that their anti-abortion protest was taking place within 200m of the Aberdeen Health Village. Legislation is crystal clear that buffer zones operate 24 hours a day. To be clear, the SFP are perfectly entitled to continue protesting against abortion. In future, however, we suggest they follow the example of activists in Glasgow, who have been able to stay more than 200m away from abortion services while making their position clear. Patients and NHS staff deserve to access and provide healthcare free from intimidation or harassment. Buffer zones are a proportionate way to achieve this.”

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