U.S. State Department Doubles Down on Warning to UK: “Buffer Zones” are an “Egregious Violation” of Free Speech 

  • State Department issues a further condemnation of Britain’s “egregious” buffer zones, warning of a “concerning departure” from shared UK-US values
  • Birmingham Christian Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is back under investigation for silently praying near an abortion facility 

WASHINGTON, D.C. / LONDON (19 August 2025) – The United States has issued its strongest warning yet to the UK over so-called “buffer zones”, which have been used to target silent prayer and peaceful expression outside abortion facilities. 

In a comment to the Telegraph, the US State Department accused the UK government of committing an “egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty.”

“It is common sense that standing silently and offering consensual conversation does not constitute harm.”

- U.S. State Department Spokesperson

The comment comes in response to cases in which individuals – some elderly – have been arrested, charged, or even criminally convicted for simply for praying silently or offering consensual conversations within large censored zones outside abortion facilities.

Under current legislation in England & Wales, “influencing” a person’s decision to access an abortion facility, within 150m of the facility, is a crime carrying a potentially unlimited fine.

In Scotland, similar legislation exists, censoring the area within 200m of all hospitals.

A State Department spokesman told The Telegraph: 

“The United States is still monitoring many ‘buffer zone’ cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship throughout Europe. 

“The UK’s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty, but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin US-UK relations.  

“It is common sense that standing silently and offering consensual conversation does not constitute harm.” 

Free Speech in Retreat

The US government’s statement echoes Vice President JD Vance’s warning earlier this year at the Munich Security Conference, where he said free speech is “in retreat” across Europe, particularly in Britain. During Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the White House, the Vice President directly raised concerns about the UK’s restriction of free speech. 

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The US State Department’s latest Human Rights Report also highlighted “credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression” in the UK. 

Individuals Targeted for Prayer or Conversation

Among those punished under the laws is Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired biomedical scientist, who received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £20,000 in costs after standing near a Bournemouth abortion facility holding a sign that read: “Here to talk if you want to.” She described her prosecution as “a dark day for Great Britain.” 

Adam Smith-Connor, an army veteran, was convicted in November for praying silently for a few minutes in his head near the same abortion facility in Bournemouth, and ordered to pay £9,000 in costs. 

In Scotland, Rose Docherty, 75, was arrested in February for standing outside Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital with a sign reading: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” Last week, Scottish authorities dropped their case against her and guaranteed they would return her sign. 

And recently, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce – a charitable volunteer who has supported mothers in crisis for over 20 years – was placed back under investigation for praying silently near an abortion facility in Birmingham, despite having won £13,000 in compensation from West Midlands Police last year for having unfairly arrested her twice before for the same activity. 

“Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are cornerstones of any free society,” said Lorcan Price, Irish Barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International.  

“The UK’s treatment of individuals like Livia, Adam, Isabel and Rose for the false ‘crimes’ of praying silently or offering conversation shows just how far the country has strayed from its own proud traditions of liberty. The US State Department is right to call out this injustice. It is time for the UK government to restore fundamental freedoms, and repeal buffer zone legislation.” 

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Pictured: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce; Rose Docherty; Adam Smith-Connor; Livia Tossici-Bolt; Lorcan Price (ADF International)

U.S. State Department Applauds Scotland’s Decision to Drop Case Against Pro-Life Grandmother Rose Dov

Rose Docherty in Scotland
  • Washington voices support after authorities back down from prosecuting grandmother arrested under Scotland’s “buffer zone” law 
  • Rose Docherty, 75, held a sign reading “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want”

GLASGOW (18 August 2025) – The United States Department of State has welcomed Scotland’s decision to drop legal action against 75-year-old grandmother Rose Docherty, who was arrested earlier this year for holding a sign offering peaceful conversation near Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth II Hospital. 

In a statement to The Telegraph, a State Department spokesperson said: 

“We applaud Scotland’s sensible decision to refrain from further legal action against Rose Docherty.

“The United States stands with all those fighting for free speech and religious liberty.” 

Docherty, a lifelong Glaswegian, was arrested and later issued a formal warning in February 2025 after standing quietly within 200 metres of the hospital – an area covered by Scotland’s new “buffer zone” law. Her sign read: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” 

““We applaud Scotland’s sensible decision to refrain from further legal action against Rose Docherty.

- U.S. State Dept. Spokesperson

The law prohibits harassment, intimidation, or attempts to influence somebody’s decision to access an abortion facility. Despite engaging in none of these activities, Docherty was arrested and issued with a formal warning, which would have required her to admit wrongdoing and refrain from similar actions in the future. 

Docherty refused to accept the warning, maintaining that she had broken no law. This week, the Procurator Fiscal confirmed the case has been dropped and the warning withdrawn.  

Authorities also agreed to return her sign. 

Reacting to the decision, Rose Docherty said: 

“This is a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation.  

“I stood with love and compassion, ready to listen to anyone who wanted to talk. Criminalising kindness has no place in a free society.” 

Concerns about the buffer zones legislation escalated earlier this year when the law’s architect, Green Party MSP Gillian Mackay, admitted in a BBC interview that even visible prayer in a private home could be considered an offence if seen from within a buffer zone. 

Lois McLatchie Miller, Scottish spokesperson for ADF International, which supported Rose Docherty’s defence, said: 

“Every Scot has the right to speak freely and to offer compassionate conversation without fear of prosecution. 

“It’s vital for allies to stand together in defence of this fundamental freedom, and we welcome the outpouring of support Rose has received both at home and abroad, including from the United States, which is a key voice for the protection of free speech worldwide.” 

ADF International will continue supporting individuals like Docherty, defending their right to peacefully express beliefs without fear of criminalisation. 

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Prosecutor Backs Down in Case Against Scottish Grandmother in Major Free Speech Victory

Rose Docherty in Scotland
  • Procurator Fiscal withdraws warning, confirms Rose Docherty will not be charged for offering consensual, peaceful conversation inside abortion “buffer zone” in Glasgow 
  • Docherty held a sign reading “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, if you want” – ADF International co-ordinated her legal defence

GLASGOW (14 August 2025) – In a win for freedom of expression in Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal has decided not to proceed with a prosecution against 75-year-old grandmother Rose Docherty, who was arrested earlier this year for holding a sign offering to talk with anyone who wished (see video above).  

The authorities have further guaranteed that Docherty’s sign will be returned to her from Police Scotland. 

"This is a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation."

- Rose Docherty

On 19 February 2025, Docherty – a lifelong Glaswegian – stood peacefully within 200 metres of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth II Hospital campus holding a sign that read:

“Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”

Her quiet presence fell within the so-called “buffer zone” around the hospital, where a new law prohibits harassment, intimidation, or influencing decisions about abortion. Despite engaging in none of these activities, Rose was arrested and later offered a formal warning requiring her to admit wrongdoing and refrain from similar actions in future.

Refusing to compromise her conscience by admitting to an offence she did not commit, Docherty – supported by the legal team at ADF International – rejected the warning outright. This week, the Procurator Fiscal confirmed the case has been dropped and the warning withdrawn.

Reacting to the news, Rose Docherty said:

“This is a victory not just for me, but for everyone in Scotland who believes we should be free to hold a peaceful conversation.

“I stood with love and compassion, ready to listen to anyone who wanted to talk. Criminalising kindness has no place in a free society.”

Lorcan Price, Irish Barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International, said:

“No one should fear arrest for offering a consensual conversation. Rose’s case is a stark example of how ‘buffer zone’ laws can be weaponised to silence peaceful expression. 

“We are relieved that common sense has prevailed, but the fact that Rose was arrested and threatened with prosecution shows the urgent need to protect fundamental freedoms in Scotland.”

Docherty’s arrest drew international attention, with the US State Department publicly expressing concern about her arrest, adding: “Freedom of expression needs to be protected.  We call on governments, whether in Scotland or around the world, to respect freedom of expression for all.”

Gillian Mackay admits buffer zones impact prayer within homes

In February, Gillian Mackay MSP admitted that prayer by a window in one’s own home could be an offence within a buffer zone – depending on who is passing by.

Speaking to BBC’s “Scotcast” Podcast, the Green Party Politician repeatedly denied that prayer was being criminalised under the law. 

But when asked if “performative prayer” with “clasped hands”, visible from a window, could be prosecuted, she responded: “well, that depends on who’s passing by the window…”

The admission came despite previously accusing US President JD Vance of spreading “shameless misinformation” when he highlighted concerns that “even private prayer within [people’s] own homes may amount to breaking the law” in his Munich Security Conference Speech earlier this year.

Lois McLatchie Miller, Scottish spokesperson for ADF International, said: 

“We were concerned when such legislation was proposed that we’d witness a slippery slope of censorship. Less than a year after the law coming into force, Gillian Mackay has admitted that it could impact silent prayer even in private homes, depending on who’s passing by the window. And what’s more, we’ve seen an innocent grandmother arrested just for offering conversation. Who are the authorities to determine which conversations, thoughts, or prayers members of the public do or don’t want to have?”

ADF International will continue to offer legal support to individuals like Rose Docherty, defending the right to peacefully engage in conversation or prayer without fear of criminalisation.

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U.S. State Dept. Highlights Alarming Decline in Free Speech in the United Kingdom 

Adam Smith-Connor

  • New report notes “significant human rights issues” including criminal and civil laws which limit free expression 

  • Case of army veteran convicted for silent prayer highlighted as example of censorship crisis 

Adam Smith-Connor

LONDON (13 August 2025) – A newly released U.S. State Department Human Rights Report has sounded the alarm over mounting restrictions on freedom of expression in the United Kingdom – both in public spaces and online. 

The “2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices”, published this week, notes that “the human rights situation worsened in the United Kingdom” during the year 2024, adding: 

“Significant human rights issues included credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression, including enforcement of or threat of criminal or civil laws in order to limit expression…” 

“Significant human rights issues included credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression."

- State Department's "2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: UK"

Criminalizing Peaceful Expression in Public Spaces

The report identifies buffer zone laws which restrict “influence” around abortion facilities as matters of concern in the restriction of free expression.  

Citizens have been prosecuted for engaging in silent prayer or for peacefully offering information within these zones. 

The report notes that such restrictions criminalize even “efforts to influence others when inside a restricted area, even through prayer”.

The State Department notes that “in October, an individual was convicted in England for engaging in silent prayer…”. Adam Smith-Connor – an army veteran and father of two – was tried and convicted for praying silently for a few minutes across the road from an abortion facility in Bournemouth, where a local “buffer zone” was in place. Smith-Connor was ordered to pay £9,000 in costs. With support from ADF International, he is appealing the ruling later this year. 

J.D. Vance highlighted this case as one of the worst examples of censorship in Europe during his speech at the Munich Security Conference in Munich. 

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Broad and Vague Speech Crimes Online

Looking at the online world, the report highlights the Online Safety Act 2023, which came into force in 2024, which threatens free speech online and “expressly expanded Ofcom’s authority to include American media and technology firms with a substantial number of British users, regardless of whether they had a corporate presence in the UK…

“…Experts warned that one effect of the bill could be government regulation to reduce or eliminate effective encryption (and therefore user privacy) on platforms,” noted the State Department. 

The report also highlighted that in April 2024, Scotland implemented the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, introducing sweeping new offenses for “stirring up hatred” through speech or online communication. The penalty for speech deemed to be offensive under this law is up to seven years imprisonment. 

Reacting to the report, Lorcan Price, Irish Barrister & Legal Counsel for ADF International in London, said: 

“It’s plain to see that the censorship crisis is worsening in the UK – from citizens being arrested and prosecuted just for praying in their heads, to the Online Safety Act clamping down on free expression online. Whilst these developments are deeply concerning, it’s encouraging to see Britain’s US allies highlight these issues, as more and more Brits speak out in defence of our hard-fought freedom of speech.” 

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Pictured: Adam Smith-Connor; Lorcan Price (ADF International)

Christian Arrested for Silent Prayer Back Under Investigation

  • Crown Prosecution Service to advise on charging Isabel Vaughan-Spruce again for praying silently near abortion facility in Birmingham
  • Charitable volunteer, who was cleared in court and received a payout from police for being unjustly arrested twice for her silent prayers, has been consistently praying in same location for twenty years

Birmingham (10th August 2025) – West Midlands Police have confirmed a live investigation into Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who has been engaging in silent prayer on a public street near an abortion facility in Birmingham.

This marks the third time in which the police have responded to Vaughan-Spruce’s silent prayers. In 2023, the charitable volunteer was acquitted in court after being arrested for praying in a local “buffer zone”, under a Public Spaces Protection Order which banned “expressions of approval or disapproval” of abortion. The incident occurred while the abortion facility was closed. The prosecution offered no evidence to support a conviction.

“Silent prayer cannot possibly be a crime – everyone has the right to freedom of thought.”

- Isabel Vaughan-Spruce

Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing, Isabel was arrested again for the same silent thoughts in the same location weeks later, opening an investigation that lasted several months. In August 2024, Vaughan-Spruce successfully challenged her two unjust arrests and received a settlement from West Midlands Police of £13,000.

Vaughan-Spruce, who has been a charitable volunteer supporting mothers in crisis pregnancy for twenty years, has continued to pray nearby the abortion facility on a weekly basis. West Midlands Police have begun a practice of posting two police officers to watch her pray silently. On regular occasions, she has been approached by officers and asked if she is praying.

Vaughan-Spruce submitted a complaint to the police force for repeatedly harassing and interrogating her while failing to explain how she had been in breach of any law. The complaint noted that her treatment was at odds with the previous clear verdict from the courts and CPS guidance on the matter.

Her formal complaint was declined on the basis of there being a live investigation against her, despite her never being formally informed that this was the case.

West Midlands Police have now confirmed that they await advice from CPS considering next steps on the allegations against Isabel. CPS has previously decided that acts of standing silently in prayer do not meet its evidential and public interest thresholds to warrant prosecution. This approach appeared to be formalised under new guidance which noted that conduct which was not ‘overt’ would fall outside the scope of criminality (LINK). This is believed to be the first test of CPS guidance under the controversial national “buffer zone” legislation.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce commented:

“Despite being fully vindicated multiple times after being wrongfully arrested for my thoughts, it’s unbelievable that I am still being harassed by police for silently pray in that area, and yet again find myself under investigation for the same prayers I have said for twenty years. Silent prayer cannot possibly be a crime – everyone has the right to freedom of thought.” 

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF International, who have supported Vaughan-Spruce’ legal defence, said:

“’Buffer zones’ are among the most concerning frontiers of censorship in the modern west. We all stand against harassment and abuse, but the ‘buffer zone’ lawbroadly bans “influence”, which is being interpreted by police officers to target innocent people who happen to stand in a certain place and believe a certain thing. We will continue to robustly challenge this unjust censorship, and support Isabel’s right to think and believe freely.”

Footage of Isabel’s arrest in 2022 went viral worldwide:

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Pictured: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce (x2); Isabel being arrested for her prayers (November 2022, March 2023); Jeremiah Igunnubole

Victory for Religious Freedom: Nigerian High Court Strikes Down Wrongful Conviction of Christian Man Who Faced Torture 

Nigerian Christian man David.
  • A High Court in Northern Nigeria has overturned the wrongful conviction of a Christian man who helped a persecuted convert escape violence in the country.
  • ADF International and allied lawyers provided legal support to David’s case and secured justice after a year-and-a-half of legal struggle.
Nigerian Christian man David.

NORTHERN NIGERIA (4 AUGUST 2025) – A Nigerian High Court has overturned the wrongful conviction of a Christian man, David*, who was tortured, imprisoned and fined after aiding two adult women converts who faced violent threats for converting to Christianity. David had been falsely accused of kidnapping and other crimes in early 2024 and convicted following a rushed three-day trial without legal representation.

This case is a powerful reminder of the urgent crisis facing Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria. David was tortured, prosecuted, and imprisoned simply for helping a woman escape violence because of her faith. We welcome the court’s decision in this case and pray that others will never have to face what David went through. Protections for religious freedom must increase within Northern Nigeria.

- Sean Nelson, Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International

“This case is a powerful reminder of the urgent crisis facing Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria. David was tortured, prosecuted, and imprisoned simply for helping a woman escape violence because of her faith,” said Sean Nelson, legal counsel for global religious freedom at ADF International. “We welcome the court’s decision in this case and pray that others will never have to face what David went through. Protections for religious freedom must increase within Northern Nigeria.”

David was one of two Church leaders targeted for their role in helping two adult women, Adah* and Naomi*, safely relocate after they converted to Christianity and faced credible death threats from family and community members. After aiding their escape, David and another church leader, Ezekiel*, were unlawfully detained and tortured for weeks by militants before being handed over to police. While Pastor Ezekiel was released without charges after legal intervention, David was prosecuted and convicted on false kidnapping charges without legal representation in a three-day sham trial at a magistrate’s court and was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.

ADF International-supported lawyers intervened, securing his release on bail and appealing the conviction. In July, the High Court quashed the conviction entirely and ordered the return of the fine David had been forced to pay. The state did not appear in court to defend the original prosecution.

Christian Persecution in Nigeria

Tragically, cases like David’s are common in Nigeria. Christians in the country face widespread persecution and violence from terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Muslim Fulani militias, as well as from government laws and policies that severely restrict and punish religious freedom.

“Despite the persecution in my community, I know that I have everlasting life,” David said, citing John 3:16. “This is our encouragement. My community and I, in the Christian faith, rejoice on account of the assurance of the Word of God. This is our confidence and peace.”

In 2022, roughly 5,000 Christians were murdered for their faith in Nigeria – more than the number killed in all other countries combined. For 2023, one estimate put the number of Christians targeted and killed in Northern Nigeria at over 7,000.

Through strategic legal work and partnerships, ADF International supports clients like David across Nigeria’s national courts and through international mechanisms, aiming to bring immediate relief and promote respect for religious freedom. Efforts to raise awareness of religious persecution, including recent international legislative initiatives, highlight the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable communities in Nigeria. Efforts like these have led to the release of many persecuted Christians like David, such as Rhoda Jatau, acquitted of blasphemy charges in December 2024.

ADF International remains committed to defending religious freedom and standing alongside those persecuted for their faith until justice and liberty are secured for all.

*Names changed for security reasons.

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“What is a Woman?” Legal Showdown Begins in Australian Federal Court

Sall Grover, founder of Giggle for Girls app. Defendent in Tickle v. Giggle.
  • Biological male “Roxanne Tickle” sued “Giggle for Girls” app, and founder Sall Grover, for female-only membership policy
  • Appeal began today (4-7 August) in pivotal case for rights of women to female-only spaces, with implications for the safety of women’s sports, crisis shelters, changing rooms and more 
Sall Grover, founder of Giggle for Girls app. Defendent in Tickle v. Giggle.

SYDNEY (1 August 2024) – The Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia has begun to hear the appeal in what has been described as the “ultimate ‘what is a woman?’ case” in a 4-day hearing from 4-7 August. 

Last summer, the Court ruled in Roxanne Tickle v. Giggle for Girls (“Tickle v. Giggle”) that “Roxanne Tickle,” a biological male who identifies as a woman, experienced unlawful discrimination when prevented from joining female-only networking app “Giggle.”  

The court found that Tickle experienced “indirect discrimination,” ordering Giggle for Girls to pay $10,000 AUD in compensation and to cover Tickle’s legal costs.  

I am optimistic. I know we are right & I know that reality always wins - eventually. Reality is inescapable.

- Sall Grover, CEO, "Giggle"

Tickle sued the female-only app on the basis that, being “legally permitted to identify as female” and having had his birth certificate amended, he should be permitted into spaces reserved for biological women. Giggle for Girls argued that women have a right to single-sex spaces, both online and offline. 

The Court rejected Giggle’s defence that Tickle was not unlawfully discriminated against, but instead disqualified from joining the networking app due to his male sex.   

In the judgment, the court stated “…sex is not confined to being a biological concept referring to whether a person at birth had male or female physical traits, nor confined to being a binary concept, limited to the male or female sex…” 

ADF International has supported Giggle’s defence on the basis that Australian law must uphold the truth of biological reality and in line with the protections for women enshrined in international human rights law.  

Commenting on the decision, Giggle CEO, Sall Grover, said:  

“To use Giggle, users had to be female, and female in the ordinary use of the word which is biological,” Grover explained, adding, “I am optimistic. I know we are right & I know that reality always wins – eventually. Reality is inescapable. The law has to reflect reality. In reality, no man is a woman so therefore no man should legally be a woman.” 

Katherine Deves of Pryor Tzannes & Wallis, legal representatives for the Respondent, said: “The stakes are high in this case. Women’s international human rights will be lost if “woman” now includes any male who identifies as such. This decision matters not just in Australia but also to the watching world.”  

Robert Clarke, Director of Advocacy for ADF International, which provided support for the case, said:  

“By ruling that a biological male was discriminated against for being excluded from a women’s app, the court delivered a flawed judgment that undermines protections for women. Sex is not a feeling – it is a biological fact, and it cannot be changed. This appeal is a defining moment: the Court must choose between ideology and reality.”

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Pictured (left to right): Sall Grover; Katherine Deves; Robert Clarke.

Christian pastor threatened with arrest after being assaulted for peaceful preaching  

  • Pastor Dia Moodley was assaulted by Muslim bystanders who objected to his peaceful preaching in Bristol. One man threatened to stab the pastor
  • Police twice threatened to arrest Pastor Moodley for ‘public order offences’. Prior to this incident, the pastor spoke with the US State Department about his previous experience as a victim of censorship in the UK
  • ADF International supports Pastor Moodley’s action against Avon and Somerset Police, which includes a complaint regarding their treatment of him and their failure to promptly investigate serious crimes against him
  • Help support Pastor Moodley’s fight for free speech here.

BRISTOL (2 August 2025) – Police threatened to arrest a Christian pastor for “public order offences”, after he was assaulted by Muslim men who objected to his preaching in Bristol.

One of the men threatened to stab Pastor Dia Moodley, who was preaching in Bristol city centre about the differences between Christianity and Islam while holding a Quran.

Avon and Somerset Police officers responded by threatening to arrest the pastor twice for “breaching the peace”, despite the fact that the men had pinned the Christian to the floor and tried to take the Quran from his hands, which they said was their book, not his.

Pastor Moodley met with the US State Department prior to this incident and spoke about his previous experience as a victim of censorship in the UK, at a meeting facilitated ADF International.

On previous occasions, the police tried to censor the pastor’s preaching and last year arrested him for commenting on Islam.

ADF International supports Pastor Moodley’s action against Avon and Somerset Police, which includes a complaint concerning the most recent incident, regarding the police’s treatment of him and their failure to promptly investigate serious crimes against him.

With the help of ADF International, Pastor Moodley is also taking an action for compensation against Avon and Somerset Police, for his signs, which were destroyed under police instruction following his arrest last year.

In a vindication for Pastor Moodley, the police apologised for the destruction of his signs and reiterated that apology after he submitted a complaint with the support of ADF International.

Pastor Moodley said: “I preach in public because I believe all people, including Muslims, need to know that Jesus Christ is ‘the way, and the truth, and the life’. I always do so respectfully, out of love for my neighbour.

“Unfortunately, on this occasion a group of Muslim men objected to my preaching and reacted with violence. It’s shocking that the police initially said I had breached the peace. This shows yet again that two-tier policing, which targets the expression of Christians, is a reality in modern day Britain.

“My case is evidence of the severe free speech crisis in the UK, which has increasingly been making headlines and has even attracted expressions of alarm from the United States.”

Lorcán Price, an Irish barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International, said: “We are proud to stand alongside Pastor Moodley in his fight for free speech. His experience shows clearly the extent to which the right to free speech has deteriorated in the UK, including with the imposition of de facto blasphemy laws that target Christian expression, through public order and other legislation.

“All in favour of free speech must support repealing censorial legislation and introducing stronger protections for freedom of expression in the UK. Otherwise, innocent people like Pastor Moodley will be forced out of the public square or face unjust criminalisation for their peaceful expression.”

 

Background

On 22 March, Pastor Moodley engaged in street preaching in Bristol city centre, where he spoke about the differences between Jesus and Mohammed, while holding a Quran.

A crowd gathered and a number of Muslim men took offence at Pastor Moodley’s preaching, with one man threatening to stab him and another attempting to punch his wife.

The bystanders then proceeded to try to forcibly take Pastor Moodley’s Quran. They pushed him off his ladder, pinned him to the floor, and claimed the Quran was their book, not his.

In response, police officers told Pastor Moodley on two separate occasions that he would be arrested for a breach of the peace—despite the fact that he had been the victim of crime.

Meanwhile, the man who had threatened to stab Pastor Moodley continued to make threats in the presence of the officers.

That man was not arrested or questioned at the scene and no details of any of the Muslim men who had assaulted Pastor Moodley were taken on the day of the incident.

Members of the public intervened strongly to the police on Pastor Moodley’s behalf to say that he had done nothing wrong or hateful.

A Senior Inspector then arrived and told Pastor Moodley, contrary to what the other officers had said previously, that there was no chance he would be arrested.

 

Avon and Somerset Police’s past targeting of Pastor Moodley

In March of last year, Pastor Moodley was arrested after preaching about the differences between Christianity and Islam in Bristol, despite the fact that he was the victim of assault on that occasion.

He was arrested on suspicion of committing “racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence” under Section 31(1)(c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. He was held for 13 hours in a police cell.

This incident came after Avon and Somerset Police previously conceded restrictions they placed on Pastor Moodley, preventing him from “passing comments on any other religion” besides Christianity, were “disproportionate”, after these were challenged with the support of ADF International and Free Speech Union.

Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only. Please credit ADF International.

The first three pictures are of Pastor Moodley’s arrest in March 2024, for peacefully preaching. 

The sixth picture is of Pastor Moodley and Jeremiah Igunnubole, barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International.

The last picture is of Lorcán Price, Irish barrister and Legal Counsel for ADF International.

U.S. Congress Introduces Resolution Condemning the Persecution of Christians in Muslim-Majority Countries

  • A new congressional resolution brings renewed attention to reports of Christian persecution in many Muslim-majority countries and urges the U.S. government to address religious freedom concerns in its foreign policy.

  • ADF International has supported and endorsed the resolution, calling for stronger international protections for fundamental religious freedom.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced a congressional resolution (H. Res,. 594) condemning the widespread and ongoing persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries. The resolution cites numerous human rights violations documented across countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Türkiye, Iran, Pakistan, and others. It highlights targeted killings, mass church closures, arbitrary arrests, forced conversions, and the denial of basic religious freedoms.

In Nigeria alone, it notes, more Christians are killed each year than in all other countries combined, most recently during an attack in Benue State that claimed the lives of over 200 believers.

“No one from any religious background should face persecution for their faith. Yet year after year, Christians remain the most persecuted religious group worldwide, especially in many Muslim-majority countries,” said Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Global Religious Freedom at ADF International. “We applaud the resolution for recognizing this grave reality and urging U.S. action. When Christians are being killed, silenced, or driven underground, we cannot look the other way.”

“No one from any religious background should face persecution for their faith. Yet year after year, Christians remain the most persecuted religious group worldwide, especially in many Muslim-majority countries. We applaud the resolution for recognizing this grave reality and urging U.S. action. When Christians are being killed, silenced, or driven underground, we cannot look the other way"

- Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Global Religious Freedom at ADF International

“More than 380 million Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith,
with many of those Christians facing persecution throughout many Muslim-majority countries;,” the resolution states, referencing Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List.

The resolution followed Moore’s first-ever floor speech in April, which also focused on the global crisis of Christian persecution. It calls on the President to prioritize the protection of persecuted Christians in U.S. foreign policy and to use all available diplomatic tools, including in ongoing trade and national security negotiations with Muslim-majority countries, to press for the advancement of religious freedom and the protection of persecuted Christians. The resolution was co-sponsored by seven other congressmen, including W. Gregory Steube, (R-FL), Michael Guest (R-MS), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), and Pat Harrigan (R-NC).

“The widespread, severe, and systematic persecution of Christians is too often ignored. This resolution is important because it clearly identifies what so many won’t: that Christians are often singled out because of what they believe and who they are,” said Sean Nelson, legal counsel for global religious freedom at ADF International.

Background

Through legal advocacy and global alliances, ADF International works to protect the rights of Christians and other religious minorities facing persecution around the world.

In Nigeria, extremist violence by groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani militants has led to the mass killing, abduction, and displacement of Christians. Cases such as those of Rhoda Jatau and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu reveal the violent persecution and punishments that come under the country’s blasphemy laws. ADF International works alongside allied lawyers to provide legal support, document these human rights violations, and advocate for greater accountability and protection for vulnerable communities.

In Egypt, Christians frequently face mob violence, church closures, and legal discrimination. ADF International monitors and provides legal support against these violations and engages with international bodies to highlight the ongoing threats to religious freedom in the country. Christians in nations such as Pakistan, Iran, and Algeria, face imprisonment, harassment, and legal penalties for practicing their faith. ADF International provides legal support, submits human rights reports to the United Nations, and advocates for international action in defense of persecuted religious minorities.

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Brazilian Supreme Court Urged to Protect Children from Gender Ideology Experiments in Brief Filed by Human Rights Organizations

Brazil censorship

    • Legal brief to Supreme Federal Tribunal supports Brazilian Medical Council’s decision to ban ‘gender transition’ of minors 
    • ADF International, in conjunction with Instituto Isabel, urges the Tribunal to uphold Brazil’s right to shield minors from experimental gender interventions. 
    Brazil censorship

    BRASILIA (JULY 14) – Pending before the supreme court of Brazil is a decision to ban so-called “gender transition” of minors. The case follows an April decision by the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine, which issued updated ethical and technical standards for managing gender dysphoria for individuals under the age of 21 by banning the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and potentially irreversible surgeries to encourage minors to live as the opposite sex.   

    “Trans-activist” groups challenged the guidelines in court. In response, ADF International and Brazilian organisation Instituto Isabel filed an amicus brief urging the court to uphold the Council’s authority and shield minors from experimental gender interventions. The Supreme Federal Tribunal is expected to decide on the challenge to the new guidelines later this year.

    “No child should be subjected to dangerous experiments that carry permanent, life-altering consequences. We fully endorse the Brazilian Medical Council’s decision to prohibit these so-called treatments and have urged the Supreme Federal Tribunal to uphold the decision in accordance with Brazil’s international human rights obligations to protect children. This is about ensuring that medical practice remains rooted in evidence and ethics, not gender ideology."

    - Tomás Henriquez, Director of Advocacy for Latin America at ADF International

    “No child should be subjected to dangerous experiments that carry permanent, life-altering consequences,” said Tomás Henriquez, Director of Advocacy for Latin America at ADF International. “We fully endorse the Brazilian Medical Council’s decision to prohibit these so-called treatments and have urged the Supreme Federal Tribunal to uphold the decision in accordance with Brazil’s international human rights obligations to protect children. This is about ensuring that medical practice remains rooted in evidence and ethics, not gender ideology.” 

    ADF International’s legal brief argues that the Medical Council’s resolution addresses pressing public health concerns and is supported by international law. It references the long-lasting harms of so-called “transgender” medical interventions for minors, calling on Brazil to ensure the right to health of children by prohibiting access to experimental interventions. 

    The brief cites recent court decisions, including a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Skrmetti, which confirmed that U.S. states can set limits on gender-related medical procedures for minors. It urges the Supreme Federal Tribunal of Brazil to uphold similar protections by applying international law and fulfilling its duties under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The brief states that the Medical Council “[H]as a compelling interest in safeguarding the physical and psychological well-being of minors and protecting minors from unsafe medical procedures is a part of that interest.” 

    The brief references medical research as part of a growing, larger global consensus to suspend the practice of experimental gender interventions, opting instead for non-invasive psychological treatments.  

    It states, “Previous guidelines for treating gender dysphoria, which allowed for the dispensation of puberty blockers and cross-hormone therapy for minors, as well as for irreversible surgical procedures, lack scientific evidence and have been widely criticized by the scientific community. The new guidelines (…) are part of a reversal in course by health authorities in many nations that once allowed these procedures or forms of intervention without regard for the integral health of minors.

    Support from UN Special Rapporteur

    On 16 June 2025, Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, publicly welcomed the Medical Council’s decision, describing the resolution as consistent with its international human rights obligations and a necessary step to protect minors. Alsalem emphasized that permitting children to undergo medicalized gender interventions “violates their right to safety, security, and freedom from violence,” and warned of the long-term physical and psychological harms associated with these interventions. 

    International Shift to Dismantle Gender Ideology

    The move places Brazil among a growing number of countries reassessing the use of these interventions on children in light of serious ethical and medical concerns. 

    In South America, Chile and Argentina have taken steps to restrict the performance of such interventions, and to curtail the influence of gender ideology in its policies. In the U.K., following the publication of the Cass Review, which criticized youth gender treatments, the Tavistock Clinic was shut down by the National Health Service, and the Health Secretary introduced a permanent ban on the use of puberty blockers as a treatment for transgender affirmation. Countries across Europe, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia have implemented legal or administrative measures to restrict these interventions on minors. 

    “Governments are beginning to recognize that so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ for minors is anything but settled,” said Andrea Hoffmann, President of Instituto Isabel. “Brazil’s actions reflect a broader international shift—one that puts the wellbeing of children ahead of political pressure and medical experimentation. We urge the Supreme Federal Tribunal to uphold the Medical Council’s decision and affirm the country’s duty to protect children and safeguard ethical medical practice.” 

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