Scottish Grandmother Charged for Violating Buffer Zone Law
In a case that is attracting significant attention, a 75-year-old woman from Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, faced criminal charges for reportedly breaching Scotland’s buffer zone law near a hospital in Glasgow. Rose Docherty was charged for displaying a sign that invited conversations, an act authorities claim contravenes legislation designed to prevent influencing behavior near abortion clinics.
Docherty is facing allegations under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Scotland Act. The charges indicate her actions of holding placards near Queen Elizabeth University Hospital between September 2024 and February 2025, as reported by The Sunday Times.
The placard in question bore the message, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want,” and has become a focal point in what could be the inaugural prosecution under the new Scottish law. During her court appearance in Glasgow, Docherty did not enter a plea but was released on bail.
Legal advocacy group ADF International is providing support for Docherty. They announced that earlier bail conditions restricting her movement beyond the buffer zone were relaxed during a hearing on December 19.
Docherty expressed her stance through a statement shared by ADF International: “I should not be treated as a criminal for inviting people to chat with me – lending a listening ear.” She further stated, “Nobody should be criminalized just for offering a chat.”
The buffer zone law, effective from 2024, aims to criminalize harassment and any attempt to influence others within 200 meters of abortion service facilities. Scottish Parliament Member Gillian Mackay, who introduced the legislation, highlighted its necessity to curb intimidation outside clinics. The law also extends to private properties used for protest activities.
Docherty’s encounter with law enforcement began in February when she declined a formal warning after her initial arrest. Her actions once more led to arrest in September, as reported by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Decision Magazine. During her custody, she was reportedly not provided with a chair despite her medical history of a double hip replacement.
The incident drew international attention, with the U.S. State Department condemning the arrest as “another egregious example of the tyrannical suppression of free speech happening across Europe,” as shared with The Sunday Times. U.S. Vice President JD Vance also criticized the law at the Munich Security Conference, underscoring it as a threat to free expression.
Lois McLatchie Miller, ADF International’s Scottish spokesperson, defended Docherty’s actions, stating, “It is not a crime to have a chat on the streets of Glasgow.” Emphasizing the peaceful nature of Docherty’s conduct, she added, “This is not a case about harassment, intimidation or violent protest — this is simply a peaceful grandmother who held a sign offering to speak to anyone who would like to engage.”
The buffer zone law stipulates fines up to £10,000, with no defined ceiling for severe offenses. Although it permits prosecution for visible prayer on private property if deemed protest-oriented, legislators clarified that private prayer within homes remains lawful unless intended as public demonstration.
Gilliam Mackay, who now co-leads the Scottish Greens, defended the legislation’s purpose to “end the intimidation and harassment we have seen of people who are accessing healthcare.”
Docherty is scheduled to appear for her next court hearing on January 13, 2026.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
