Scottish Parliament Member Gillian Mackay, the author of the controversial draconian legislation banning citizens from engaging in prayer inside “safe-access zones” near abortion clinics, admitted in a recent podcast that an offense could be committed even if a person was silently praying in their own home.
During a speech at Germany’s Munich Security Conference earlier this month, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said the basic rights of religious UK citizens are being stripped away, pointing out one man was arrested and found guilty for silently praying 50 meters away from an abortion clinic.
“I wish I could say that this was a fluke, a one-off crazy example of a badly written law being enacted against a single person, but no,” Vance said of the abortion activist’s arrest. “This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called safe-access zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law. Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought crime. In Britain, and across Europe, free speech I fear is in retreat.”
Mackay responded to Vance by telling BBC Scotland News his comments were “nonsense” and that private prayer at home was not impacted.
“This is shocking and shameless misinformation from VP Vance, who is either very badly informed about what my Act has done or he is knowingly misrepresenting it,” she said. “He is one of the most powerful people in the world but he is peddling total nonsense and dangerous scaremongering.”
Referring to letters delivered to UK citizens living in the “safe access zones” that warned against displaying posters, banners, or other forms of visible protests, Mackay said, “Both the religious right and J.D. Vance would like to spread some of the misinformation about what is in those letters. There is no mention of silent prayer – it’s about using your home to influence people going to seek an abortion.”
However, earlier this week, Mackay told BBC Scotland’s Scotcast podcast that people praying within their own homes could be breaking the law.
The show’s host asked if a person holding their hands together in prayer while standing “at a window” where people outside could see them could be deemed an offender.
“That then depends on who’s passing the window…” the Green politician said, before the podcaster pointed out that means J.D. Vance “is not wrong.”
“No, he is wrong. Because I don’t know anyone that can pray loudly or performatively enough to be seen from outside their own house,” Mackay replied.
🚨🙏NEW: When asked if PRAYING BY WINDOW in your home could be a crime under the “buffer zones” law, Gillian Mackay MSP claims:
— Lois McLatchie Miller (@LoisMcLatch) February 25, 2025
“That depends on who’s passing the window”‼️🪟
The same politician has repeatedly claimed that JD Vance was LYING 👇 pic.twitter.com/11vCCaWFtg
Earlier this month, a 74-year-old woman was arrested for silently praying near a Scottish abortion clinic and holding a sign reading, “Coercion is a crime. I’m here to talk, only if you want.”
Leftist politicians like Mackay are gaslighting citizens while knowingly passing authoritarian laws.
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