e-News from Precious Life
Pro Life Group launch legal challenge to ‘Abortion Zones’ legislation
Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life have announced they will launch a legal challenge to the abortion access zones legislation that was passed by pro-abortion MLAs in the Assembly today. The pro-life group said their legal action will go right up to the European Court of Human Rights.
Green Party leader Clare Bailey’s bill to criminalise pro-life people who hold vigils outside abortion centres, was passed by 55 to 29 votes. Bailey has admitted the aim of her bill was to CRIMINALISE ANYONE who talks to a woman going into an abortion centre - offers her help or support - or simply holds a pro-life sign - or even stands silently praying. Any woman or man in Northern Ireland doing any of these innocent acts now faces fines up to £2500.
Spokesperson for Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “The passing of this draconian and oppressive bill now criminalises innocent women and men who hold peaceful pro-life vigils outside abortion centres in Northern Ireland.
“But we will not let this discriminatory legislation go unchallenged. It denies people their fundamental human rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression – both protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act. It also breaks one of the of the key principles of the Good Friday Agreement, which is to uphold the right to expression of religion. Precious Life will challenge this through our local courts, the High Court, the Supreme Court, and if need be, right up to the European Court of Human Rights.”
She added, “The 55 MLAs who voted for this bill should be ashamed. Clare Bailey and the other pro-abortionists in SDLP, Sinn Fein, UUP, Alliance, and People Before Profit completely ignore the reality that little babies are being killed inside these abortion centres. The ultimate 'safe zone' for unborn babies should be in their mothers’ wombs.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “Precious Life’s peaceful vigils in Northern Ireland will continue offering help and life-affirming alternatives to women outside the abortion centres. We will never stop actively protecting unborn babies — when and wherever their lives are at risk.
