{"id":21140,"date":"2023-11-15T09:19:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T09:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adf.uk\/?p=12537"},"modified":"2024-01-26T13:23:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T12:23:17","slug":"court-hearing-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/court-hearing-tomorrow","title":{"rendered":"PRESS ADVISORY: Court hearing TOMORROW for Silently Praying Army Veteran"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21140\" class=\"elementor elementor-21140\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce3684f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce3684f\" 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-4edd41b7\" data-id=\"4edd41b7\" 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-5bd6613e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bd6613e\" 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 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Father of two to appear at Poole Magistrates\u2019 Court for praying, in his head, in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d &#8211; 10am tomorrow<\/strong><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">VIDEO: &#8220;What is the nature of your prayer?\u201d officers interrogate Adam Smith-Connor for \u201cthoughtcrime&#8221;<\/span><\/b><\/li><\/ul><p><b style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">DORSET, UK <\/span><\/b><b style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(15th November 2023)<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2013 Adam Smith-Connor, the army veteran criminally charged for praying silently in an abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d, will appear before Poole Magistrates\u2019 Court tomorrow at 10am GMT.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" 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.\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\">Supporting Adam Smith-Connor&#8217;s legal defense, ADF UK, contends 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<\/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\">Despite the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">maximum<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> fine for this offence being \u00a31000, Bournemouth, Christchurch and <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Poole<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Council have <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">indicated<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to the Court that they have spent more than <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a3<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">25,000 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">from<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> the public purse to prosecute the case and are seeking to recover those costs from Smith-Connor<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/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\"><a href=\"http:\/\/adf.uk\/support-adam\/\">Members of the public are invited to support Smith-Connor&#8217;s legal defence here.<\/a> <\/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;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Adam served in Afghanistan to protect fundamental freedoms, not imagining that he would have to defend the most basic of <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">freedoms<\/span><\/i> <i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">for himself when he returned home. <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">E<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">veryone <\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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> <i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">B<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">oth domestic and international law have long established freedom of thought as an absolute right that must never be interfered with by the state<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/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;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8220;There are significant questions to be answered about the validity of a council both drafting its 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 on the issue of silent prayer and thought. The rule of law demands democratic accountability, prosecutorial independence and legislative clarity, all of which are manifestly lacking in this case<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,&#8221; <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">said Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, the organisation supporting Adam Smith-Connor\u2019s legal defen<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">e.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An Abuse of Process<\/span><\/b><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\">At the abuse of process hearing tomorrow, the defence will argue that the police had previously assured Smith-Connor that <\/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\"> (see the exchange captured on footage here). It will be argued that it is 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 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The defence will also raise concerns about the council\u2019s prosecutorial independence noting in particular that the initial prosecution decision was changed only after pressure from the relevant abortion provider. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thoughtpolicing on UK Streets<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><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><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/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-3c76622 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"3c76622\" 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-fd93a50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd93a50\" 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-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><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\">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\">We recently celebrated Remembrance Sunday. But we do not truly \u201cremember them\u201d, if we forget the freedoms for which they sacrificed,&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">said Adam Smith-Connor ahead of his court appearance tomorrow.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:330}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><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><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><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To request an interview with Adam Smith<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8211;<\/span>\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"auto\">Connor and Jeremiah Igunnubole (legal counsel for ADF UK, supporting Smith-Connor&#8217;s defense) contact Lois McLatchie Miller on +447932512279 or\u00a0<\/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><p><em>Pictured below: Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK; Adam Smith-Connor; Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was found &#8220;not guilty&#8221; after being prosecuted for silently praying in an abortion facility &#8220;buffer zone&#8221;<\/em><\/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>Father of two to appear at Poole Magistrates\u2019 Court for praying, in his head, in abortion facility \u201cbuffer zone\u201d &#8211; 10am<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":14657,"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-21140","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 v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - 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