British Man Convicted of Criminal Charges for Praying Silently Near Abortion Clinic
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
In Britain, it can be a crime to think the wrong thoughts in the wrong place. It sounds absurd—not to mention Orwellian—but a handful of people have been arrested or charged in the country simply for praying silently near abortion clinics.
This month, a British man was convicted of criminal charges for praying silently near an abortion clinic. The man, Adam Smith-Connor did not attempt to harass, intimidate, or interact in any way with those entering the clinic. Instead, he wordlessly prayed with his head bowed slightly. He wasn't even on clinic property—he was outside the sightline of the clinic itself, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a religious freedom group.
As a result, Smith-Connor was questioned by police and later charged with violating a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), a broad censorship order enabled by the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act . Under this law, local authorities can obtain special status for some public places, allowing them to ban a huge range of conduct. In the name of limiting "anti-social behavior," British towns have obtained PSPOs to ban the homeless from sleeping outside or to ban swearing .
Several cities have used this law to place "buffer zones" around local abortion clinics. The PSPO in Smith-Connor's case not only banned "intimidating or harassing" those working at or seeking services from the clinic but also barred individuals from engaging in "prayer," "[sprinkling] holy water on the ground," and "[crossing] themselves."
Smith-Connor violated this order in November 2022. He was convicted, and sentenced earlier this month to a "conditional discharge"—similar to probation—and ordered to pay approximately $11,709 in prosecution fees, according to the ADF.
The court's reasoning betrayed the absurdly censorious nature of the local law. "In its decision, the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to 'disapproval of abortion' because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped," according to the ADF.
"He was capable of being seen, he was engaged in prayer and it would have been perceptible to an observer," said Judge Orla Austin, The Telegraph reported . "He said he would not be looking at anyone so he could not breach their privacy but I find his presence and the circumstances could cause detrimental impact."
Smith-Connor is far from the first Briton to face legal consequences for silent prayer near an abortion clinic. In 2022, a woman in Birmingham, England was arrested for praying silently outside an abortion clinic. That same year, a priest was criminally charged for holding a sign reading "Praying for Freedom of Speech" near an abortion clinic, even though his sign had nothing to do with abortion rights
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Not a Babylon Bee article.
Not sure you can classify Great Britain as a democracy at this point.
But not very truthful either. He was NOT arrested or convicted for "praying silently". He was arrested after he was asked multiple times to leave a space around a clinic which was designated a "safe zone" to prevent the intimidation of those who wish to access health care and abortion services.
In its decision, the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to 'disapproval of abortion' because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped,
So intimidating!!! Standing with your head bowed outside of the line of sight of an abortion center. Boy, imagine what Trump could do with that power. Anyone thinking bad thoughts about Trump within Washington DC could be subject to arrest.
Not surprising the thought police would have supporters on the left.
I guess you missed the part where it said " The order, which was due to be in place for three years , is intended to prevent “protesting… with respect to issues relating to abortion services”, whether approving or disapproving
So, he would have been arrested even if he was a Pro-choice advocate. Kind of blows your whole "supporters of the left" bullshit argument out of the water doesn't it. But hey, I never expect anyone on the right to actually be honest, they clearly love and support liars as they've chosen for their advocate and candidate for President the world's biggest liar, tax cheat, fornicator, adulterer and all-around scum bag.
pect anyone on the right to actually be honest,
Speaking of being honest, you believe pro-choice protesters protest abortion clinics, which is where the "no bad thinking" zone applies. Lol.
Here's the thing, I'm against thought crime whether it's pro or against abortion (in a make believe world where abortion supporters protest abortion clinics). You are making asinine arguments to defend it and support a fascist law.
It's called counter-protesting which anyone with more than half a brain should know.
Also, there is no such thing as a "no bad thinking" zone either here or in GB. Over there, there is a safe zone around the clinics that ban people from staying within the zone and “protesting… with respect to issues relating to abortion services”, whether approving or disapproving and “ includes but is not limited to graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counselling”. It's that fucking simple. If you want to pray or protest or counter-protest, do it outside the safe zone as per the law in that country.
If this was a Black Lives Matter protester sitting in a space where protesting was not allowed because it's disrupting customers or traffic and they were quietly praying to themselves and then asked to leave by police but refused and eventually were arrested, you'd be cheering the police and the arrest and you know it. You only call it a 'thought crime' because you've taken his side in his protest.
How can you counter protest when you can't even think bad thoughts legally?
so, there is no such thing as a "no bad thinking" zone either here or in GB
Read again:
s was a Black Lives Matter protester sitting in a space where protesting was not allowed because it's disrupting customers or traffic
Read it again and see where you analogy fails.
I'm not a fascist, so I don't support arresting people for standing somewhere and not attempting to harass, intimidate, or interact in any way with anyone else, because of what someone might be thinking.
You can think, pray, frolic and do pretty much whatever you want outside the safe zone that was established for the safety of patients attempting to access the clinic. Inside the safe zone you can think, even pray and then quickly move on and no one would object. You continue to avoid the fact that this guy was doing something in an attempt to be seen and refused to leave an area after being asked. That's not 'thought police' in the slightest and anyone trying to make it that is lying and making a big deal out of nothing because they want to play the victim which of course every fucking Christian conservative just loves doing.
I'm not a fascist and there is NOTHING fascist about this law in GB. I don't agree with all their laws, they actually still have laws against blasphemy and insulting words or behavior which I think is total horse shit, but I have no problem with a law defining a safe zone around a clinic trying to serve patients to prevent them from being harassed in any way, even by a guy trying to force his beliefs on others trying to avail themselves of the clinics services. He could pray ANYWHERE else, and he was allowed to pray even in the safe zone until it became clear he was doing it as a protest and refused to leave. Only then was he arrested. There is NOTHING fascist about that and to even attempt to claim it's somehow fascist is beyond stupid, it's moronic and mind numbingly dishonest.
Yes, Because prayers, or even the thought someone might pray, are dangerous!!! How dare someone think non-approved thoughts in public? How can a country survive with people running around thinking independent thoughts in areas not approved by the government.
That's not 'thought police' in the slightest an
You keep ignoring the Judge explicitly addressing silent prayer as illegal.
epatients to prevent them from being harassed in any wa
Yes, thinking thoughts and not speaking or interacting with anyone while out of sight of the abortion mill is such a threat to its patrons.
mpt to claim it's somehow fascist is beyond stupid, it's moronic and mind numbingly dishones
Getting shriller doesn't make your argument any better. You want to arrest people for silently thinking and not interfering with anyone. That's totally incompatible with the most basic of civil liberties, but the left stop caring about those decades ago.
Wow. So Great Britain has no toleration for bull and people who 'skirt the rules' - just to cry: "Foul!" Or some such injustice when busted by authorities. Good on them! BTW, I am not sure with all our national issues why we need to cross the pond and 'pick on' Great Britain!