British Army veteran Adam Smith Connor, who lives in Southampton, traveled to the English county of Dorset in 2022 to stand near an abortion clinic for his son Jacob, and for “other people who lost their lives to abortion.” I prayed silently for the baby, for the grieving family, and for the abortion. Clinic staff. ”
Two officers then called out to the grieving 51-year-old father and notified him that he had breached a public space protection order by remaining silent. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council subsequently prosecuted Mr Smith-Connor and handed him a hefty fine, but the veteran disputed this.
Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday ultimately found Mr Smith-Connor guilty, saying his prayers amounted to “disapproval of abortion”.
The faith-based freedom advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom International, which represented Smith-Connor, said:
shown Smith-Connor was sentenced to conditional release and ordered to pay prosecution costs amounting to nearly $12,000.
A condition of his discharge is that he refrain from engaging in similar acts for the next two years. He will have a criminal record regardless.
“Thought crimes are now being prosecuted in the UK.”
Responding to the ruling, Smith Connor said: “Today the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the UK. That's not right. What I did was protect my privacy. I just prayed to God inside.” My own mind, yet am I convicted as a criminal? ”
“I served 20 years in the Reserves, including a tour in Afghanistan, defending the fundamental freedoms on which this country is built,” Smith-Connor continued. “I continue that spirit of service as a medical professional and a church volunteer. It is deeply disturbing to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thoughtcrime is now being prosecuted in the UK. .”
smith conner
said In his testimony to ADF International last year, he said: “Twenty-two years ago, I drove my ex-girlfriend to the facility where she had paid for her abortion. And that was a huge source of sadness in my life. ”
“I pray now for my son and for God's forgiveness,” Smith-Connor added.
Blaze News previously reported that the penitent approached the British Pregnancy Advisor Service slaughterhouse on November 24, 2022 to pray for the soul of her son. He did so behind a tree, with his back to the clinic.
BPAS is the leading provider of abortions in the UK;
boasted on the website One in three British women will have an abortion before the age of 45.
Smith-Connor stood near the BPAS clinic, bowed slightly, clasped hands and prayed. This attracted the attention of law enforcement.
picture Footage of the incident shows a male and female officer confronting Christian's father about his intentions.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” but ultimately the guidelines must be followed. ”
“What is the nature of my prayer? I pray for my son,” Smith-Connor told the officer.
A female police officer said, “The public space protection order has provisions regarding prayer and disapproval of activities at the clinic here.''
In areas where public space protection orders are in force,Anti-social behavior crime and control law“Protests,” i.e., acts of approval/disapproval, or attempted acts of approval/disapproval, by any means, regarding issues related to abortion services are prohibited. This may include, but is not limited to, graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counseling. ”
If a violation is found, an “unlimited fine” will be imposed.
In the video, Smith-Connor admits to officers that he had indeed prayed for his murdered son, and the officer says, “It's unfortunate that he died, but in the end, it's a public matter.'' We have to follow the guidelines.” protection order, so we say we believe you are in violation
Article 4aThis article talks about prayer and also about disapproval of clinic activities. ”
GBNews presenter and former MP Miriam Cates said in a statement: “This is 2024, not 1984. No one should be put on trial for just a thought in their mind.” said.
“It is outrageous that local councils are spending taxpayer dollars prosecuting thought crimes when resources are scarce,” Cates continued. “Buffer zone regulations are disproportionately broad, putting innocent people at risk of prosecution simply for offering help or standing up for their beliefs.”
“Praying silently in the depths of your heart is not a crime.”
“It's a shame that in 2024 you could be on trial in the UK for praying silently in your head,” said Edward Lee, MP and father of the current House of Commons. . “Unfortunately, the UK has repeatedly seen freedom of speech threatened when it comes to the expression of Christian beliefs.”
Isabel Vaughan Spruce was similarly charged with breaching the PSPO near an abortion clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
In January, a Christian singer was arrested in London for singing gospel music “off church grounds.” In response to the backlash against this incident, the Metropolitan Police Department ultimately took the following measures:
apologize.
“Praying silently in the depths of your heart is not a crime,” Lee continued. “The government urgently needs to make clear that freedom of thought is protected as a fundamental human right.”
Britain plans to further restrict speech rights surrounding abortion clinics later this month.
There are currently five councils across the UK that have set up censorship zones (officially known as 'buffer zones' around abortion clinics) around abortion clinics, but the government
dignified On October 31, a 492-foot censorship zone was established around all abortion clinics islandwide. Within these jurisdictions, it would be illegal to “intentionally or recklessly influence or interfere with someone's decision to access abortion services, or cause harassment or distress.” Someone uses or works in these facilities. ”
Andrew Tettenborn, Professor of Law at Swansea Law School, said: noticed Spectator (UK):
Smith-Connor's case was somewhat unusual in that he actually admitted to the police officer who approached him that he had been praying for his deceased son. But what if things had been different? Many people who are approached in public by officials in this way and questioned about their personal beliefs have a perfectly believable reputation for telling the officials concerned in no uncertain terms to mind their own business. He would have a British instinct. Will this protect them? probably. But there's no need to worry. If there is no confession, it may be more difficult to obtain a conviction, but it may still be possible for officers to arrest the person.
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