An anti-abortion group in Exeter has sparked widespread outrage.

Anti-abortion society members at the University of Exeter claim they have received death threats following the launch of an online petition calling for it to be disbanded.

Many have fears that the group "is a direct attack on women’s rights."

Three students from the university - George Adamson, Lauren Gollop and Isobel Maddocks - have launched an online campaign opposing the existence of Exeter Students for Life which advocates against abortion, and states it "promotes the dignity of human life and striving for its protection."

The society advertises how it equips its members with 'the tools to share the pro-life message in a sensitive and respectful way'.

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Concerns have been raised that the society 'threatens the safety and wellbeing' of women at the University of Exeter.

The society claims death threats have since been made against members and it is calling on the university to take immediate action.

The University of Exeter Students' Guild says it supports freedom of speech, and will investigate any alleged breaches of the set of values and code of conduct its societies have to abide by.

University of Exeter sign

The creators of the petition, which has been signed by more than 3,000 people, said: "University must be a safe space for healthy debate; a place where intellectual curiosity is able to flourish and people are in turn able to learn and develop their opinions.

"However, by allowing the existence of a society based around an opinion, that belief is shielded from the necessary scrutiny that would normally occur.

"It is especially alarming when this society has adopted such a controversial and harmful point of view, a view which is a direct attack on women’s rights.

"According to the World Health Organisation, 22,800 women die a year from botched abortions. This is a direct result of those who wish to perpetuate the fallacy that no woman really wants an abortion, or that to have an abortion is comparable to murder.

"Not only is the existence of a society based around a single issue intellectually reductive, it will undoubtedly exacerbate the pre-existing stigmas around abortion, such as shame and self-loathing.

"Its existence undermines the complexity of each individual woman’s experience. This dangerous ideology is one that must be exposed to the opposition, not sponsored by our student union, and we believe that those who so strongly believe it should express it in other societies such as the Debating Soc or the Christian Soc."

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Alireza-Ghazi Torbati, president of the Exeter University Students For Life, said: "As a society, we speak up for and take a stand for the rights of pre-born children, 200,000 of which lose their lives to abortion every year in this country.

"We aim to equip pro-life students to advocate for the pro-life position and to provide a space to discuss the issue respectfully and sensitively.

"We also aim to support prospective and current student parents, as well as those who may be suffering post-abortive trauma.

"The UK has traditionally been a bastion of free speech, but in recent years that has been eroded and the trend has been reflected in over 100 of our universities.

"Pro-life groups in particular have been targeted and faced attempted censorship for valid beliefs held by many across the world.

"Our student group should enjoy the same rights as every other student group on campus, free of discrimination or harassment.

"The death threats made against members of our society are completely unacceptable and deeply disturbing.

"We have contacted the university. We would like them to take immediate action on this.

"Exeter University must be a marketplace for free thinking, which is what universities are designed to be.

"As George Orwell said: ‘If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they don’t want to hear’."

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A spokesperson for University of Exeter Students' Guild said: "We acknowledge that this is an emotive topic to a lot of our community and we can understand that it is something people have different views on and feel strongly about.

"We support freedom of speech. We want to foster an environment where our members can participate fully, feel able to question and challenge, express new ideas, discuss controversial and or unpopular opinions within the law - all without fear of intolerance or discrimination.

"We are committed to the principle that both debate and deliberation should not be suppressed, and we encourage and support our members to engage, within the law, in both a constructive and responsible manner to contest any ideas they oppose openly and vigorously."

The Guild added that it has a set of values and code of conduct that it expects all student groups to follow, and it will investigate any alleged breaches of them.

It is also encouraging students who have been impacted by the debate surrounding Exeter Students for Life to reach out for wellbeing support services offered at the university, and to attend its upcoming Guild Council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, October 6).

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