{"id":21139,"date":"2023-11-09T10:13:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T10:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adf.uk\/?p=12475"},"modified":"2024-02-19T15:51:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T14:51:06","slug":"army-vet-prepares-for-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21139\" class=\"elementor elementor-21139\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b63f5b3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b63f5b3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6686a97f\" data-id=\"6686a97f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10856d4d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10856d4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li 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\">Family man faces criminal prosecution in relation to praying silently in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li 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=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">VIDEO: &#8220;What is the nature of your prayer?\u201d officers interrogate Adam Smith-Connor for \u201cthoughtcrime\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BOURNEMOUTH, UK (9th November 2023)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2013 This Remembrance Day weekend, Adam Smith-Connor &#8211; army veteran and father &#8211; is preparing to face court on criminal charges related to praying silently, in his head, near a Bournemouth abortion facility.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor pleaded \u201cnot guilty\u201d to breaking a local \u201cbuffer zone\u201d ordinance last Winter at his first hearing in August. The regulation forbids \u201cexpression of approval or disapproval\u201d of abortion, including through prayer. Smith-Connor&#8217;s legal team, backed by ADF UK, contends that he cannot have expressed any opinion on the subject simply by thinking thoughts inside his mind, and that this prosecution is a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of thought.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor&#8217;s next court hearing will take place on 16<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> November at Poole Magistrates\u2019 Court. Members of the public are invited to <a href=\"http:\/\/adf.uk\/support-adam\/\">support to Smith-Connor&#8217;s legal defense here.\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cAdam is one of several individuals who have faced a penalty for their \u201cthoughtcrimes\u201d on the streets of the UK this year. This simply shouldn\u2019t be happening in a democratic society \u2013 all should be free to hold their own beliefs in the privacy of their own minds, including reflections about their own experiences of abortion.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If Adam had been thinking about an issue other than abortion \u2013 for example, climate change \u2013 then there would be no issue raised here.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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\u00a0create\u00a0unhelpful legal confusion regarding the right to think freely. Both domestic and international law have long established freedom of thought as an absolute right that must never be interfered with by the state,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> said Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, the organisation supporting Adam Smith-Connor\u2019s legal defense.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Bodycam footage shows Smith-Connor&#8217;s interaction with the authorities in which they question him as to <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cthe nature of his prayer\u201d.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> He explained that he was praying about his own experience of abortion, having arranged and paid for one twenty-two years ago, and the grief he has over the loss of his son. He also was praying for the men and women facing difficult decisions over the same issue today.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0c6826 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"c0c6826\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/hjUphe7mktE&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-container brlbs-cmpnt-content-blocker brlbs-cmpnt-with-individual-styles\" data-borlabs-cookie-content-blocker-id=\"youtube-content-blocker\" data-borlabs-cookie-content=\"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\"><div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-preset-c brlbs-cmpnt-cb-youtube\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-thumbnail\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/borlabs-cookie\/1\/yt_hjUphe7mktE_hqdefault.jpg')\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-main\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-play-button\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-content\"> <p class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-description\">You are currently viewing a placeholder content from <strong>YouTube<\/strong>. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.<\/p> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-provider-toggle\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-show-provider-information role=\"button\">More Information<\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-buttons\"> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-unblock role=\"button\">Unblock content<\/a> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-accept-service role=\"button\" style=\"display: inherit\">Accept required service and unblock content<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a843698 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a843698\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor later was issued notice of a penalty fine, despite being there for only a few minutes and praying silently in his mind, with his back turned away from the building.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The notice acknowledged that he was being charged for \u201cpraying for his deceased son\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cYou might think this is a story from Orwell\u2019s 1984 \u2013 but in fact this is happening in England in 2023. \u201cThoughtcrimes\u201d shouldn\u2019t be prosecuted in the UK. Britain has 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. I fought to defend our freedoms \u2013 but now my own freedom of thought is in jeopardy.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How can we send our troops out to potentially make the ultimate sacrifice, when back home police are arresting people for peacefully practising their faith and offering charitable support to families in crisis?<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. We remember the war dead by upholding the freedoms for which they sacrificed themselves. Sadly, today, we are in danger of dismantling the values for which they died,&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">said Adam Smith-Connor ahead of his court hearing on 16th November.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In August, Adam Smith-Connor gave an emotive address to the press after entering his \u201cnot guilty\u201d plea at Poole Magistrates Court:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div style=\"width: 848px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-21139-1\" width=\"848\" height=\"480\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/ADAM-Statement.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/adf.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/ADAM-Statement.mp4\">https:\/\/adf.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/ADAM-Statement.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thought on Trial<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smith-Connor\u2019s legal team contend that freedom of thought is protected absolutely through the Human Rights Act and therefore the Council has no power to introduce a prohibition on silent prayer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At the hearing, the defense will submit that the police had, on another occasion, assured Smith-Connor that\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8220;you&#8217;re allowed to stand here and do what you&#8217;re doing&#8230;this is England and it&#8217;s a public place and you&#8217;re entitled to do that.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ADF_UK\/status\/1681224259606048768?s=20\">see the exchange captured on footage here<\/a>). It will be put to the court that it is manifestly unjust, and an abuse of process, that he should be later fined following this reassurance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The defense will also argue that the council is in an undemocratic position of drafting, enforcing and prosecuting its own &#8220;buffer zone&#8221; regulation without accountability or oversight.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0&#8220;There are significant questions to be answered about the validity of a council both drafting it&#8217;s own Public Spaces Protection Order and prosecuting alleged breaches of it themselves &#8211; in effect, putting themselves in the position of judge, jury, and executioner. The rule of law demands democratic accountability which is manifestly lacking in this case<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,&#8221; commented Jeremiah Igunnubole<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adf.uk\/support-adam\/\"><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>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Family man faces criminal prosecution in relation to praying silently in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":22440,"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-21139","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 v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam prepares to face criminal prosecution in relation to praying silently in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam awaits criminal prosecution after having been interrogated as to &quot;the nature of his prayer&quot; in an abortion facility &quot;buffer zone&quot;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ADF International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-11-09T10:13:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-19T14:51:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/aretegroup-640-330px-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam awaits criminal prosecution after having been interrogated as to &quot;the nature of his prayer&quot; in an abortion facility &quot;buffer zone&quot;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/aretegroup-640-330px-1.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@adfintl\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@adfintl\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Philipp Bues\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141\"},\"headline\":\"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-09T10:13:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-19T14:51:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\"},\"wordCount\":865,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Adam\",\"free speech\",\"UK\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\",\"name\":\"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head - ADF International\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-09T10:13:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-19T14:51:06+00:00\",\"description\":\"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam prepares to face criminal prosecution in relation to praying silently in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg\",\"width\":1732,\"height\":2560},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/news\\\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/\",\"name\":\"ADF International\",\"description\":\"Protecting Fundamental Freedoms. Promoting Inherent Dignity.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Alliance Defending Freedom International\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/08\\\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/08\\\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png\",\"width\":175,\"height\":106,\"caption\":\"Alliance Defending Freedom International\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/facebook.com\\\/adfinternational\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/adfintl\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/adfinternational\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/adfinternational\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141\",\"name\":\"Philipp Bues\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Philipp Bues\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/adfinternational.org\\\/en-gb\\\/author\\\/pbuesadfinternational-org\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head - ADF International","description":"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam prepares to face criminal prosecution in relation to praying silently in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head","og_description":"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam awaits criminal prosecution after having been interrogated as to \"the nature of his prayer\" in an abortion facility \"buffer zone\"","og_url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court","og_site_name":"ADF International","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational","article_published_time":"2023-11-09T10:13:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-02-19T14:51:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":330,"url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/aretegroup-640-330px-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Philipp Bues","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head","twitter_description":"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam awaits criminal prosecution after having been interrogated as to \"the nature of his prayer\" in an abortion facility \"buffer zone\"","twitter_image":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/aretegroup-640-330px-1.png","twitter_creator":"@adfintl","twitter_site":"@adfintl","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Philipp Bues","Estimated reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court"},"author":{"name":"Philipp Bues","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141"},"headline":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head","datePublished":"2023-11-09T10:13:10+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-19T14:51:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court"},"wordCount":865,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg","keywords":["Adam","free speech","UK"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court","name":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head - ADF International","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg","datePublished":"2023-11-09T10:13:10+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-19T14:51:06+00:00","description":"This Remembrance Sunday, Adam prepares to face criminal prosecution in relation to praying silently in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Adam-SC-at-Cenotaph-scaled-1.jpg","width":1732,"height":2560},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/army-vet-prepares-for-court#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Afghanistan army veteran prepares to face court for praying silently in his head"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#website","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/","name":"ADF International","description":"Protecting Fundamental Freedoms. Promoting Inherent Dignity.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#organization","name":"Alliance Defending Freedom International","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ADF_Intl_R_RGB_175px.png","width":175,"height":106,"caption":"Alliance Defending Freedom International"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational","https:\/\/x.com\/adfintl","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/adfinternational","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/adfinternational\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141","name":"Philipp Bues","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philipp-Bues-Headshot-150x150.jpg","caption":"Philipp Bues"},"url":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/author\/pbuesadfinternational-org"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}