‘Influencing’ near abortion centers in the UK is being criminalized as the government plans to create ‘buffer zones’ across the country

The UK has expanded its so-called “buffer zone” law to cover the area around all abortion facilities across the country from 31 October.

National law applicable to England and Wales makes it an offense to “influence” someone’s decision to “access” abortion services within 150 meters or almost 500 feet of any abortion facility; Critics say this is a violation of freedom of expression and opinion.

The move comes after nearly 60,000 people signed a contract. open letter Demanding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, According to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UKHe supports the legal defense of four people prosecuted for praying or offering help in “safe access” or “buffer” zones.

“It is an offense for a person within a safe access area to take any action with the intent to influence any person’s decision to access an abortion clinic, access abortion services, provide those services or facilitate the provision of that service.” The Public Order Act 2023 says:.

TWITTER SHARED THE CLIP OF THE UK WOMAN ARRESTED FOR PRAYING QUIETLY ACROSS THE ABORTION CLINIC: ‘TERRIBLE’

Last week, Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran and father of two, Found guilty of praying silently A “thought crime,” as some call it, after he stopped to pray for a few minutes near an abortion facility in November 2022, according to ADF UK. The court sentenced him to conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000.

Smith-Connor announced on Thursday, the same day buffer zones came into force across the country, that she would appeal against her conviction after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published new guidance explaining silent prayer was not “necessarily” an offence. abortion “buffer zone” According to ADF UK.

Adam Smith-Connor. (Alliance Defends Freedom UK)

“The government simply cannot be allowed to determine the content of thoughts and prayers,” Smith-Connor said at the time the appeal was announced.

“I served in the reserves for 20 years, including a tour to Afghanistan, to protect the fundamental freedoms on which this country was built,” he added. “I continue this spirit of service as a healthcare professional and church volunteer. I am deeply disturbed to see our freedoms being eroded to the extent that thought crimes are being prosecuted in the UK.”

The local government area of ​​Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council spent more than £100,000 on legal fees to prosecute the crime and imposed maximum fines of £1,000, despite facing bankruptcy and having to cut “all unnecessary expenses”. According to ADF UK.

Particularly the ambiguous wording of the law was the target of criticism from freedom of expression advocates. Including ADF UK legal advisor Jeremiah IgunnuboleHe argued that the law’s vague language could be used to prevent consensual speech or silent prayer. He also argued that the law goes beyond preventing harassment and intimidation through a broad and vague prohibition on the act of “influence.”

In the UK, a woman was threatened with a fine for praying in the ‘buffer zone’ of an abortion facility: ‘TOO MUCH ORWELLI’

“Could this apply to advice from a parent? A concerned word from a friend? Information offered through a crisis pregnancy volunteer?” he said. “The law is so vaguely written that peaceful, consensual conversation and even quiet reflection could be made illegal on some streets in England.”

Igunnubole said consensual speech or silent prayer constitutes the most fundamental human rights, firmly protected by international legal provisions.

“The whole premise of censored buffer zone legislation is that women should be able to choose to access abortion without any barriers,” he said. “The legal elephant in the room should be clearly visible.”

Isabel Vaughn-Spruce. (Alliance Defends Freedom UK)

PASTOR ACCUSED AFTER PRAYING OUTSIDE A ABORTION CLINIC CONDEMNS HIS CONDEMNATION AS A CRIME

“If the law states that a woman can choose to abort her unborn child without any impediment, even without being ‘prevented’ from legal alternatives to abortion, how can the law criminalize women when they choose to have legal, harmless, consensual conversations?” he asked.

Women like Alina Dulgheriu, who decided against abortion after receiving a leaflet from a pro-life volunteer on a public street near an abortion facility, said the censorship zone denied vulnerable women access to “life-changing information.”

“Removing the option to seek help to protect the child if we feel offended is extremely arrogant and assumes that women cannot decide for ourselves or that we may choose the wrong option,” she said.

“My case is not a one-off,” he added. “There are hundreds of women like me who benefit from this support. But we are often ignored.”

Pro-life activist and philanthropic volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce arrested twice for silently praying in her head near an abortion facility in the “buffer zone” in Birmingham, England. After being found innocent at trial, Vaughan-Spruce received payments from the police for their unlawful arrest.

In response to the new law, Vaughn-Spruce called it “extremely concerning to see a vaguely worded law coming in that could punish people like me who were just there to help, or to talk peacefully, or to pray.”

“The government must urgently clarify that consensual conversations and silent thoughts and prayers between adults are protected under domestic and international law,” he said. “This isn’t 1984; we shouldn’t be policing thought on the streets of Britain.”

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