anti-choice protesters

Northern Ireland – Retired pastor guilty of abortion buffer zone breach

May 7, 2026
Maria McCann, North east reporter, BBC News NI

A retired pastor has said it is a "very dark day for Christian freedom" after being found guilty of breaching abortion buffer zone laws by preaching biblical verses near a hospital.

Clive Johnston, 78, from Melmount Road, Sion Mills in County Tyrone, held an open-air service in a safe access zone within the vicinity of Causeway Hospital on 7 July 2024.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewpk8er8e5o

07.05.2026

The Christian Institute

Scotland – Woman charged over anti-abortion protest has case dropped

Apr 28, 2026
BBC

A woman who was arrested and charged for taking part in an anti-abortion protest outside a hospital in Glasgow has had her case dismissed.

Rose Docherty, 75, became the first person charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act after holding up a placard outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in May, and again in September.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czj2ygzldgdo

28.04.2026

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act

Queen Elizabeth University hospital

buffer zone laws

Dr Greg Irwin

UK – Woman denies abortion clinic ‘buffer zone’ offence

January 29, 2026
Tom Edwards

A woman has pleaded not guilty to a public order offence after being accused of silently praying outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, 48, from Malvern in Worcestershire, is the first person in England and Wales to be charged under new "buffer zone" legislation which came into force in October 2024 and restricts some activities near abortion facilities.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgdj3r00p6o

29.01.2026

Continued: https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/mother-of-four-claire-brennan-to-appear-in-court-charged-with-breaching-hospitals-abortion-safe-access-zone-5462024

buffer zone law

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce

America’s abortion wars: inside the clinic on the front line

Since the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022, abortion is illegal in 13 US states. New Mexico has become the nearest place for many women to terminate a pregnancy — if they can get past the religious activists on a mission to change their minds

George Grylls
Friday January 16 2026

Haley Nathan, 19, writes down the details of women’s cars on a clipboard outside an abortion clinic in New Mexico, braced for the day ahead. New Mexico is the closest option for any Texan woman to receive an abortion since the overturning of Roe v Wade in June 2022.

She’s frequently yelled at, or shown the middle finger. “I try not to let it bother me because it’s gonna affect my performance on the sidewalk,” says Nathan, a young intern, fixated on the clinic’s door as she prepares herself for the hostility coming her way. “I like to say it’s not me who’s doing the work. It’s God in me. I step out, God steps in.”

Continued: https://archive.is/6FX9Y
(https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/abortion-roe-v-wade-h2j7j9lm9)

N. Ireland – Mother of four Claire Brennan to appear in court charged with breaching hospital’s abortion ‘safe access zone’

By The Newsroom
4th Jan 2026

A woman currently appealing a conviction for conducting an illegal protest inside a hospital’s ‘safe access zone’ is due to appear in court on fresh charges.

Claire Brennan is due to appear in Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday to be charged with three offences of “doing an act inside a safe access zone” on three specific dates in September, October and November last year.

04.01.2026

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023

Netherlands – Minister blocks plan for protest buffer zones around abortion clinics

Friday, 19 December 2025

Plans to create legally mandated buffer zones around abortion clinics to protect visitors from protesters have been halted after last-minute opposition from BBB Vice Prime Minister Mona Keijzer, sources told RTL. The move affects proposals by ministers for Interior and Kingdom Relations, Rijkaart (BBB), and Justice and Security, Van Oosten (VVD).

The proposal, submitted last Friday to the ministerial council, aimed to establish zones around clinics where demonstrations would be restricted. “Women must be guaranteed a quiet passage to an abortion clinic,” the ministers wrote in an unpublished letter seen by RTL. Currently, such protections depend on decisions by individual mayors.

Continued: https://nltimes.nl/2025/12/19/minister-blocks-plan-protest-buffer-zones-around-abortion-clinics

19.12.2025

Source: https://www.psni.police.uk/latest-news/police-coleraine-charge-woman-under-abortion-services-saz-act-court

Northern Ireland – Police in Coleraine charge woman under the Abortion Services (SAZ) Act court

11 December 2025

Police in Coleraine have charged a woman in her 50s under the Abortion Services (SAZ) Act with three counts of doing an act in a Safe Access Zone.

The charges relate to incidents at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine between Wednesday 3rd September and Wednesday, 19th November.

She is due to appear before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 5th January. As is procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

11.12.2025

Abortion Services (SAZ) Act

Continued: https://nltimes.nl/2025/12/03/mayors-cant-ban-protests-abortion-clinics-can-set-limits-council-state

NETHERLANDS – Mayors can’t ban protests at abortion clinics, but can set limits: Council of State

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

Mayors can’t ban people from demonstrating at abortion clinics, but they can impose restrictions to prevent disorder, the Council of State ruled in four cases on Wednesday. For example, mayors can prohibit protests directly in front of the clinic’s entrance, as long as the location where demonstrators are permitted is within sight and hearing distance from the clinic, the Council of State said.

Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State issued rulings on four demonstrations at abortion clinics - one in Groningen, one in Amsterdam, and two in Heemstede. In all four cases, the mayor banned protesters from demonstrating directly in front of the clinic’s entrance to prevent disorder. The protesters disagreed with this.

03.12.2025