Scotland Prosecutes 75-Year-Old Grandmother For Offering "Here to Talk" Sign
Scottish Buffer Zone Law Targets Christian Woman With Sign Offering Conversation, Bishops Call It Attack on Free Speech
Catholic bishops in Scotland raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and religion following the first criminal charge under Scotland's abortion clinic buffer zone legislation. Rose Docherty, a 75 year old Christian grandmother from Glasgow, became the first person prosecuted under the Abortion Services Safe Access Zones Scotland Act 2024 after standing near Queen Elizabeth University Hospital holding a sign that said
"Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want."
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland said the case marked a deeply troubling moment for civil liberties in modern Scotland, warning that the law's scope and vagueness could place ordinary expressions of belief, including silent prayer, at risk of criminal sanction. Docherty, who has undergone a double hip replacement, was arrested after four officers apprehended her.
She did not approach anyone or reference abortion directly according to Alliance Defending Freedom International, which is supporting her case.
Police Superintendent Previously Warned Against Policing Thoughts
Authorities accuse Docherty of committing two acts of influencing inside a designated buffer zone. She said after her first court hearing before Christmas, "I can't believe I am here today. I simply stood, in love and compassion, offering consensual conversation to anyone who wanted to engage. Nobody should be criminalised just for offering a chat." Her next court hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2026.
The buffer zone legislation, introduced following years of debate, applies to around 30 abortion facilities across Scotland. Within these areas, behavior that could be interpreted as influencing, whether through speech, signs or presence, may constitute a criminal offense. Supporters of the law argue it is necessary to protect women accessing abortion services from harassment or intimidation.
The bishops stressed that the Catholic Church does not support harassment and believes existing laws already provide sufficient means to address threatening or obstructive behavior. They pointed to evidence submitted during the Bill's passage through Scottish Parliament in which Police Scotland indicated that current legal frameworks were adequate to deal with public order concerns near abortion facilities and that no additional offenses were required.
The bishops argue that introducing new criminal sanctions where existing law is sufficient represents a disproportionate and undemocratic expansion of state power and sets a concerning precedent. One of the most contentious aspects of the Act is its potential reach beyond public demonstrations. Official guidance accompanying the legislation acknowledges that activities such as praying audibly or holding silent vigils could fall within its scope if deemed to be influencing. The law also applies to residential homes located within buffer zones.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Four officers arrested a 75 year old grandmother with two hip replacements.
Her crime? Holding a sign that said "here to talk, only if you want."
Police Superintendent Corrigan warned that policing people's thoughts would be really uncomfortable.
They did it anyway.
Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay admitted praying in a manner observable from a window could be an offense depending on who walks past.
Read that again.
Praying where someone can see you is potentially criminal.
Your own home isn't safe if it's within 200 meters of an abortion clinic.
The sign didn't mention abortion. It offered help against coercion. It invited voluntary conversation.
Scotland prosecuted her for thoughtcrime.
TAKE ACTION
• Alliance Defending Freedom: Donate at adfinternational.org to support Rose Docherty's legal defense and challenge Scotland's buffer zone law that criminalizes offering help to women in crisis pregnancies
• Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland: Contact scottishcatholicobservers.org to support their advocacy against buffer zone laws and defense of freedom of expression and religion
• Demand UK Government Intervention: Email your MP and the UK Justice Secretary demanding they review Scotland's buffer zone legislation that allows prosecution of elderly grandmothers for holding conversational signs
• ADF UK: Give at adfuk.org funding legal challenges to buffer zone laws across Britain that criminalize silent prayer, consensual conversation, and peaceful presence near abortion facilities
• Share Rose's Story: Post about this case everywhere using hashtags about free speech and religious freedom, showing the world what happens when governments criminalize offering help
Your Action: A 75 year old woman with two hip replacements was arrested by four officers for holding a sign offering conversation. Share this everywhere. Make people understand what buffer zone laws actually do. They don't stop harassment. They criminalize compassion. They prosecute help. They turn thoughts into crimes. Contact Scottish Parliament. Flood their offices. Demand they repeal this Orwellian nightmare. And support Rose Docherty, because if they can prosecute her for offering to talk, they can prosecute any of us for thinking the wrong thing.
