The legislation aims to prevent protests or vigils taking place within 200m of 30 clinics that offer abortion services in Scotland.

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, tabled by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, passed by 118 votes to one at Holyrood yesterday.

Detractors said the bill could infringe freedom of religion and had sought exclusions for silent prayer.

Ms Mackay said, however, that everyone should be able to access healthcare free of harassment and with dignity.

She said: “For far too long women and health care staff have been forced to run a gauntlet of intimidation, judgment and fear in order to access or deliver treatment at what can often be the most emotional of times.

“No protester and no group should be allowed to tell women what they are or are not allowed to do with their body. This should be their choice, their privacy, and their decision.”

A spokeswoman for Care for Scotland said: “The police are already empowered to deal with any incidents of abuse or harassment that occur under existing, well-balanced laws.

“Police data shows that pro-life activities do not involve the ‘harassment’ some campaigners claim is taking place. Some have wrongly sought to other and problematise peaceful pro-life people who offer support to women.”