{"id":21129,"date":"2023-08-09T12:58:14","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T12:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adf.uk\/?p=11360"},"modified":"2024-01-26T13:24:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T12:24:30","slug":"army-vet-pleads-not-guilty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-pleads-not-guilty","title":{"rendered":"Army vet pleads \u201cnot guilty\u201d following charges related to praying silently near abortion facility"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Army veteran &amp; father faces charges related to praying silently near abortion facility<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\" data-leveltext=\"-\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><strong>VIDEO: Adam Smith-Connor delivers emotional speech following court hearing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BOURNEMOUTH\/POOLE, UK (9<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> August 2023)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2013 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Adam Smith-Connor, army veteran <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and f<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ather,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> has pled \u201cnot guilty\u201d to charges related to breaking a local \u201cbuffer zone\u201d regulation by praying silently, in his mind.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor was issued a fine by local authorities after he was caught praying silently near an abortion facility on Orphir Road, Bournemouth, and was questioned as to \u201cthe nature of his prayer\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We are standing in the nation of the Magna Carta, the nation which has championed democracy and freedom. We have a history of upholding human rights we can be proud of, and a respect for freedom that I fought to uphold when I served this country for twenty years in the army reserves, including in Afghanistan. Yet here I stand before you on the steps of Poole Magistrates Court being prosecuted &#8211; for a thought crime.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The facts of my case are clear. I am accused of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone by praying for my son Jacob and other victims of abortion, for their families and for abortion clinic staff on Ophir Road Bournemouth. I did not approach anyone, I did not speak to anyone, I did not breach any one\u2019s privacy. I simply stood silently. I am being tried for the prayerful thoughts I held in my head,<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">said Adam Smith-Connor upon exiting the court.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor, who was praying silently for those facing difficult decisions relating to abortion, as well as praying regarding the child that he lost to an abortion that he now regrets paying for, is expected to enter a plea of \u201cnot guilty\u201d. His legal defense is supported by ADF UK.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF UK, was present at court with Smith-Connor.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i>\u201cThis marks the third time this year that we at ADF UK have come to the defence of a citizen facing charges simply for their thoughts, exercised in a public space. If Adam had been thinking about an issue other than abortion \u2013 for example, climate change \u2013 then there would be no hearing taking place today. Citizens in this country should be equally free to hold thoughts about the important social issue of abortion, and how it has impacted their lives and the lives of their loved ones. And in any democracy with a respect for religion freedom, all should be allowed to pray to the God that they worship, no less, in the privacy of their own minds.<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i>In permitting the prosecution of silent prayer, we are sailing into dangerous waters regarding human rights protections in the UK. Censorship zones are inherently wrong and engender unhelpful legal confusion regarding the right to free thought. Both domestic and international law have long established freedom of thought as an absolute right that must not ever be interfered with by the state,\u201d<\/i> said Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, the organisation supporting Adam Smith-Connor&#8217;s legal defense.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Outside the court, supporters congregated with 1984-inspired signs decrying the &#8220;thoughtpolice&#8221;: &#8220;<em>looks like you&#8217;ve had a little too much to think!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Members of the public who support Adam\u2019s case for freedom of thought are invited to join ADF UK in backing his legal defense at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adf.uk\/support-adam\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">www.adf.uk\/support-adam\/<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thought on Trial Again<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying in her head in similar circumstances earlier this year, also attended the Hearing at Poole Magistrates Court to support Adam.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">In a viral video in December, Vaughan-Spruce was seen being searched and arrested by three police officers after saying that she \u201cmight be\u201d praying inside her head.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Following the arrest, Vaughan-Spruce was criminally charged on the basis that her silent, imperceptible prayers amounted to \u201cintimidation\u201d. The charitable volunteer was found \u201cnot guilty\u201d by Birmingham Magistrates\u2019 Court in March.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Yet shortly following this clarification from the Court, Vaughan-Spruce was arrested a second time for the same peaceful, imperceptible activity \u2013 by praying silently in her head in a censorial \u201cbuffer zone\u201d. The arrest was attended by six police officers. The now-viral videos of Vaughan-Spruce\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MaryMargOlohan\/status\/1605957711631249408?s=20\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">first<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ADF_UK\/status\/1632820479131099136?s=20\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">second<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> arrests <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/world-responds-silent-prayer-arrest-video-2\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">ignited<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> an international outcry. Vaughan-Spruce is still waiting to hear whether she will be criminally charged again for her thoughts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI cannot believe we are seeing yet another day in court where silent prayer \u2013 peaceful thought \u2013 is put on trial.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As charitable volunteers, pro-lifers like myself and Adam have dedicated years of service to supporting vulnerable women in crisis pregnancies. We absolutely condemn harassment. What we are doing is the furthest thing from harassment. All we have ever done near abortion facilities is pray, or offer help to those who might want an opportunity to avoid abortion if only particular needs are met. Within buffer zones, we pray peacefully and silently within our minds. These are good, helpful and lawful activities in the UK.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Censorial buffer zones are an affront to women and an affront to society. They criminalise offers of charitable help and put innocent people like Adam in the dock for the thoughts in his head.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor&#8217;s Case: Background<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The army veteran and father has been charged with allegedly breaking a local censorship zone or \u201cbuffer zone\u201d regulation, imposed via a Public Spaces Protection Order. The regulation forbids \u201cexpressions of approval or disapproval\u201d of abortion on several streets in the vicinity of the abortion facility. It names prayer as such an expression, as well as \u201ccrossing oneself\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">SEE NEW FOOTAGE OF ADAM&#8217;S INTERACTION WITH COUNCIL OFFICERS HERE:<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ADF_UK\/status\/1689221980484935680?s=20\"><em> &#8220;It&#8217;s the prayer that you&#8217;ve admitted to, sir.&#8221;<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">He <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was issued a fine, despite being there for only a few minutes and praying silently in his mind, with his back <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">turned away<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> from the building so that his presence could not be misconstrued as seeking to erode the privacy of <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">women visiting<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">the facility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Smith-Connor&#8217;s legal team contend that freedom of thought is protected absolutely through the Human Rights Act and therefore the Council ha<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> no power to introduce a prohibition on silent prayer.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adf.uk\/silent-prayer-on-trial\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">FIND FULL DETAILS OF THE CASE HERE.<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0To request an interview with Adam Smith<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">Connor and Jeremiah Igunnubole (legal counsel for ADF UK, supporting Smith-Connor&#8217;s defense) contact Lois McLatchie on +447932512279 or <\/span><a href=\"mailto:lmclatchie@adfinternational.org\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">lmclatchie@adfinternational.org<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Army veteran &#038; father to face court proceedings for charges related to praying silently near abortion facility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":22457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[736],"tags":[942,899,898],"class_list":["post-21129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-adam","tag-free-speech-en-gb","tag-uk-en-gb"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - 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