{"id":62914,"date":"2024-10-15T12:11:04","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T10:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=62914"},"modified":"2024-10-16T15:37:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T13:37:17","slug":"verdict-tomorrow-army-vet-on-trial-for-silent-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/silent-prayer-verdict-tomorrow","title":{"rendered":"VERDICT TOMORROW: Army Vet on trial for silent prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"62914\" class=\"elementor elementor-62914\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c632712 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c632712\" 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-2df002ba\" data-id=\"2df002ba\" 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-80b96a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80b96a0\" 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>\n<li>\n<h6><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Army veteran and father of two, Adam Smith-Connor, charged with breaching censorial \u201cbuffer zone\u201d by holding prayerful thoughts in his mind<\/span><\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h6><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW189249465 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189249465 BCX0\">Verdict to be announced Wednesday 16<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW189249465 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW189249465 BCX0\" data-fontsize=\"16\">th<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW189249465 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189249465 BCX0\"> October, 10am, Poole Magistrates\u2019 Court<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW189249465 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h6><b>UK government to roll out &#8220;buffer zones&#8221; nationwide 31st October, criminalising &#8220;influence&#8221; near abortion facilities<\/b><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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-fc32ed0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fc32ed0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/adam_hero-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-40580\" alt=\"Adam Smith-Connor, army vet convicted\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/adam_hero-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/adam_hero-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/adam_hero-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/adam_hero-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/adam_hero.webp 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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-5d90d88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d90d88\" 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><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">DORSET (15<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">th<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> October 2024) \u2013 <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">A man charged and tried for praying silently in an abortion \u201cbuffer zone\u201d in Bournemouth will hear his verdict tomorrow at Bournemouth Magistrates\u2019 Court.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Bournemouth, Christchurch &amp; Poole Council filed charges against Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran and father of two, following an interrogation by office on \u201cthe nature of his prayers\u201d when he stopped to pray for a few minutes near an abortion facility in November 2022.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Watch footage of the interrogation below:<\/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-9c503e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"9c503e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=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-12f112ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12f112ed\" 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=\"none\">Smith-Connor was confronted by officers who asked, \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">what is the nature of your prayer<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">?\u201d, on a public green within a large \u201cbuffer zone\u201d &#8211; an area covering several streets in the town \u2013 in which authorities have banned various expressions of pro-life or Christian belief, including through offering help to women in crisis pregnancies, or praying.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk\/Assets\/Crime-safety-and-emergencies\/PSPOs\/Ophir-Road-and-surrounding-area-Public-Spaces-Protection-Order-PSPO.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Read the full text of the Public Spaces Protection Order here.<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk\/Assets\/Crime-safety-and-emergencies\/PSPOs\/Ophir-Road-and-surrounding-area-Public-Spaces-Protection-Order-PSPO.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ahead of the verdict, Adam Smith-Connor stated:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cNobody should be prosecuted for silent prayer. It is unfathomable that in an apparently free society, I am being criminally charged on the basis of my silent thoughts, in the privacy of my own mind. It\u2019s not different than being tried for a thoughtcrime.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cI served for 20 years in the army reserves, including a tour in Afghanistan, to protect the fundamental freedoms that this country is built upon. I continue that spirit of service as a health care professional and church volunteer. It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thoughtcrimes are now being prosecuted in the UK.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\">\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-35cb1561 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"35cb1561\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #AF272F\"> \"I am being criminally charged on the basis of my silent thoughts, in the privacy of my own mind. <\/span>It\u2019s not different than being tried for a thoughtcrime.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">- Adam Smith-Connor, military veteran on trial for silent prayer<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\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-7159358 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7159358\" 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=\"none\">Despite battling bankruptcy warnings and being\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-england-dorset-68620596\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">forced to cut<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0\u201call non-essential spending\u201d, Bournemouth, Christchurch &amp; Poole Council spent more than \u00a390,000 on legal fees to prosecute the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of \u00a31,000.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cb0f93b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cb0f93b\" 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-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2612b31\" data-id=\"2612b31\" 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-b76f1b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b76f1b1\" 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 style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Commenting on the trial and the use of public funds, former MP Miriam Cates said:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\"><br \/><\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cThis isn\u2019t 1984, but 2024 &#8211; nobody should be on trial for the mere thoughts they hold in their mind. It\u2019s outrageous that the local council are pouring taxpayer funding into prosecuting a thoughtcrime, at a time where resources are stretched thin. Buffer zone regulation are disproportionately wide, leaving innocent people vulnerable to prosecution merely for offering help, or simply holding their own beliefs.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/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<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-569209c\" data-id=\"569209c\" 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-2c5cd54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2c5cd54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates-1024x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-62920\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Cates.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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 class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0df040 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0df040\" 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 style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); 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=\"none\">Smith-Connor did not outwardly manifest his prayer by kneeling, speaking, or holding any signs to indicate his outer thoughts. He made every effort to be out of the line of sight of the abortion facility, positioned behind a tree with his back to the clinic and did not engage with any passersby.<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); 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;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); 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 ); font-weight: bold;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); 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;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-beb7743 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"beb7743\" 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-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d62a4cf\" data-id=\"d62a4cf\" 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-76d198b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"76d198b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh-1024x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-62925\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Leigh.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ebd3aed\" data-id=\"ebd3aed\" 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-3deef7a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3deef7a\" 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><b>Commenting on the trial, Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh MP said:<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p><p><i>\u201cIt is disgraceful that in Britain in 2024 someone can be put on trial for praying silently in his head. Unfortunately we have seen repeated cases of free speech under threat in the UK when it comes to the expression of Christian beliefs. To offer a prayer silently in the depths of your heart cannot be an offence. The government must clarify urgently that freedom of thought is protected as a basic human right.\u201d<\/i><\/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 class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f42c8a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f42c8a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A national roll-out of \"buffer zones\" - 31st October<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a05bfa4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a05bfa4\" 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 style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"none\">Five councils across the UK currently have active \u201cbuffer zones\u201d or censorship zones banning prayer and offers of charitable help to women on the public streets near abortion facilities.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The UK Parliament voted to roll out \u201cbuffer zones\u201d around every abortion facility in England &amp; Wales as part of the Public Order Act 2023.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Labour Government have announced plans to implement the zones on 31<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">st<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> October. Under the national law, \u201cinfluencing\u201d someone\u2019s decision to \u201caccess\u201d abortion services will become a crime.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Commenting on the upcoming enforcement of national buffer zones, Jeremiah Igunnubole said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">We all influence each other\u2019s decisions all the time \u2013 be it through the advice of a parent, the concern of a friend, or the information made available through a charitable volunteer. The ability to peacefully exchange views is the lifeblood of democratic society.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8220;Yet the Public Order Act is written so vaguely that these everyday, peaceful, caring conversations could be made illegal on certain streets of England when it comes to discussing abortion. The lack of clarity in the law could result in many more citizens like Adam being interrogated or even charged for simply directing silent thoughts towards God.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cThe right to hold a consensual conversation, or engage in silent prayer, constitute the most basic of human rights. They are protected robustly by international legal provisions relating to freedom of thought and speech.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">&#8220;This is a watershed moment for British freedoms, and one the public must not take lightly. A failure to protect thought and peaceful speech anywhere creates a threat to these rights everywhere. Buffer zones or otherwise, we should uncompromisingly safeguard the rights on which our democracy is based.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\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-29398707 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"29398707\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\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-658a609 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"658a609\" 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>Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only<\/p><p>PICTURED (from left): Adam Smith-Connor praying outside Poole Magistrates&#8217; Court; Adam Smith-Connor portrait; Adam with ADF UK legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole; Jeremiah Igunnubole portrait<\/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-44e83a37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"44e83a37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-scaled.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"44e83a37\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Adam Praying outside court\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjI5MTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL0FkYW0tUHJheWluZy1vdXRzaWRlLWNvdXJ0LXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDRlODNhMzcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"768\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item 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href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"44e83a37\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Image\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjI5MzAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL2ltYWdlLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjQ0ZTgzYTM3In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1024x682.jpg\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"682\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Jeremiah-Igunnubole-200x200-1-1.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"44e83a37\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Jeremiah-Igunnubole-200x200-1-1\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjI3NjAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL0plcmVtaWFoLUlndW5udWJvbGUtMjAweDIwMC0xLTEuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNDRlODNhMzcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Jeremiah-Igunnubole-200x200-1-1.jpg\" data-width=\"200\" data-height=\"200\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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>Army veteran and father of two, Adam Smith-Connor, charged with breaching censorial \u201cbuffer zone\u201d by holding prayerful thoughts in his mind Verdict to be announced Wednesday 16th October, 10am, Poole Magistrates\u2019 Court&nbsp; UK government to roll out &#8220;buffer zones&#8221; nationwide 31st October, criminalising &#8220;influence&#8221; near abortion facilities DORSET (15th October 2024) \u2013 A man charged [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":40580,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[942,899,898],"class_list":["post-62914","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) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>VERDICT TOMORROW: Army Vet on trial for silent prayer - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Adam Smith-Connor charged with breaching censorial \u201cbuffer zone\u201d by holding prayerful thoughts in his mind near abortion facility\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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