A bill proposed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party would criminalise “harassment” of women entering abortion clinics.
The bill was introduced May 21 by the PSOE’s coalition in the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of Spain’s legislature, and would criminalise “harassing women going to clinics for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy”.
Penalties for what would be deemed harassment would include jail terms of three months to a year, or community service from 31 to 80 days. Depending on circumstances, an individual could also be barred from a particular location for between six months and three years.
In the exposition of motives for introducing the bill, the PSOE described the actions of pro-life witness as “approaching women with photographs, model foetuses, and proclamations against abortion … the objective is for the women to change their decision through coercion, intimidation, and harassment”.
The socialist parliamentary group said it “considers it essential to guarantee a safety zone” around abortion clinics.
