A group of mothers who were persuaded against having an abortion by protesters are set to oppose a ruling that could ban prayer vigils outside clinics.
Ealing Council will decide on Tuesday whether to support a ban on prayer vigils outside a Marie Stopes centre after pro-life campaigners were accused of 'harassing' and 'intimidating' women going for a termination.
The council denied it was criminalising prayer as it considered whether to impose Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to create a 'safe' zone banning protests and clinics for a certain distance around the abortion clinic.
'It should be clear from the order that the only 'prayer' which is prohibited is that which amounts to an act of approval/disapproval of issues relation to abortion services,' the report to be considered on Tuesday said. 'It is not a general ban on prayer and it applies only within the "safe zone" defined by the order.'
The Good Counsel Network, which holds daily vigils outside the centre in Mattock Lane, denies any harassment and a group of women who say they decided against having an abortion after meeting with protesters have formed a campaign against the move.
'What kind of society refuses help for a vulnerable woman?,' said Alina, one of the mothers behind the Be Here For Me campaign. 'My little girl is here today because of the real practical and emotional support that I was given by a group outside the outside the Marie Stopes clinic.'
Jaceline, another mum, added: 'My daughter means the world to me. It is really upsetting to know that people are actively trying to ban the offering of support like I received outside the abortion clinic. If censorship zones are brought in, many women who are in similar situations to me will be forced into going ahead with abortions they don't want.'
The Church of England and local Methodist churches support the introduction of a PSPO, dubbed a 'censorship zone' by protesters, but say a 'designated area for quiet prayer and displaying small signs' should also be allowed.
Ealing councillors initially backed the ban in October and the council's cabinet launched an eight-week consultation in January that ended last month.
Some 3,593 residents signed a petition calling for a ban and the report recommends a three year PSPO that would stop people on Mattock Lane from approaching or monitoring women accessing the clinic, ban people from congregating in large groups and from displaying distressing images or using amplification equipment.
