BBC News Online: UK: Scotland

Shock tactics by pro-lifers

An anti-abortion group is using pictures of aborted foetuses to promote its message as it launches in Scotland.

Precious Life Scotland, which launched its campaign in Glasgow on Saturday, will distribute literature portraying graphic images of aborted babies across the country.


Around 50 activists will leaflet the public in what is promised will be a sustained campaign. The group's first protest took place outside a Brook Advisory clinic in Edinburgh clinic on Saturday.

There was a small demonstration by pro-abortion protesters outside the launch in a Glasgow hotel, but police said it had passed off quietly and no arrests were made.

There had been concerns that Precious Life Scotland was in favour of using violence, an allegation dismissed by group spokesman Jim Dowson.

'Condemn violence'

"We have never resorted to violence. I utterly condemn the use of violence," said Mr Dowson.

"Precious Life Scotland is an anti-abortion group which is mounting a campaign of re-educating the Scottish public of the realities of the abortion industry.

"The information from family planning is extremely one-sided.

"We believe this will be a watershed in Scottish pro-life activities.

"It will send a clear message out across Scotland and especially to the youth that abortion is not acceptable and is indeed an ugly, grotesque and horrible business."