THE organiser of an anti-abortion protest targeting women outside a Glasgow abortion clinic has revealed how she was recruited by an American religious group. 

Rose Docherty, from Bishopbriggs, was tracked down by group 40 Days for Life "through the pro-life grapevine" as they looked for people to organise protests in Scotland, reports the Daily Record. 

The anti-abortion activist is currently holding 40 days of "prayer vigils" outside the maternity unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. 

She has been joined by around eight other people for the protests which began on Wednesday, March 2 and will end on Sunday, April 10. 

Rose told the Daily Record: "They found out about me through the pro-life grapevine. 

"They just wanted to know if there was anyone in Scotland and I said I'd be willing to do that and I'd be willing to come out."

40 Days of Life was set up in 2004 by people protesting at an abortion clinic in Texas but now operates around the world.

Rose claims the group stand at facilities in order to "help" women who have been "coerced" into having an abortion. 

She said: "We are offering pro-life pregnancy crisis support, and we're offering help to women experiencing post-abortion syndrome as well."

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The Glasgow Times previously reported pro-choice campaign group Back Of Scotland started 40 days of demonstrations outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in a call for protest-free buffer zones to be put in place at abortion clinics. 

Organisers said: "No one should have to face intimidation when they access abortions or any kind of healthcare."

Lucy Grieve, co-founder of the group, told the Daily Record: "A number of women at the clinics that are being picketed are accessing abortion services because of fetal abnormalities – they have no other choice but to terminate their pregnancy.

"We believe that protesting someone’s choice to undergo private medical care outside a healthcare facility creates a barrier to accessing these services and constitutes harassment.

"Unfortunately, a common misconception of anti-abortion protestors is that the conversations that they are seeking to have with patients don’t happen within the clinic.

"Of course they do - patients are talked through all possible options.

"Women have felt intimidated and were upset by the presence of protestors outside clinics.

"The protestors' self-righteous presence creates real, documented, tangible harm."

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Robert Colquhoun, director of international campaigns at 40 Days For Life, said: "40 Days for Life have been organising peaceful, prayerful and legal prayer vigils in Scotland since 2016.

"We take a non-judgmental approach, we are a non-political group as a prayer ministry and ask our volunteers to reflect Christ's love in their attitude, demeanour and behaviour while in public.

"As a result in seven years of ministry in Scotland, we have not seen a single substantiated case of harassment by our volunteers towards anyone else in this time."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government believes all women in Scotland should be able to access timely abortion care without judgment, within the limits of the law, should they require it.

"As such, we are working across a number of areas to improve access to abortion services, including considering policy on buffer zones around healthcare facilities.

"A working group has also been convened with partners such as CoSLA, Police Scotland and affected Councils and Health Boards, to find an appropriate way forward as soon as possible in relation to protests or vigils outside abortion clinics to ensure that women can access abortion services without feeling harassed or intimidated."