France passes law imposing up to two years prison for deterring from abortions

The French National Assembly has adopted legislation to make what it calls “spreading misleading information” about abortion punishable with up to a two-year prison sentence and a $ 30 000 fine, reports Lifesitenews.com.

The law specifically targets “online” means of spreading information with the intention of dissuading women from ending their pregnancy. By and large, any person or group aiming to call public attention to the dangers and risks of abortion will be potentially at risk of prosecution. The law also characterizes as "misconceptions' the allegations that abortion can have negative side effects and cause health problems or psychological consequences.

The French Minister for Families, Children and Women's Rights Laurent Rossignol, who fully supports the law, believes that pro-life activists often create government-looking websites, which seem to be neutral and objective, but in fact deliberately mislead women.

Despite the fact that the authors of the law believe it does not infringe constitutional freedoms, particularly a freedom of expression, pro-life Catholics are not so sure in that. Letters of protest sent to President of France Francois Hollande state that the new law seriously undermines the principles of democracy.