{"id":62990,"date":"2024-10-16T16:22:40","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T14:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=62990"},"modified":"2024-10-16T16:54:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T14:54:41","slug":"guilty-army-vet-convicted-for-praying-silently-near-abortion-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/guilty-army-vet-convicted-for-praying-silently-near-abortion-facility","title":{"rendered":"GUILTY: Army Vet convicted for praying silently near abortion facility\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"62990\" class=\"elementor elementor-62990\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68fded6f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68fded6f\" 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-5aafc28f\" data-id=\"5aafc28f\" 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-5b404009 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b404009\" 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><b>Army veteran and father of two, Adam Smith-Connor, found guilty of breaching censorial \u201cbuffer zone\u201d with prayerful thoughts in his mind<\/b><\/li><li><b>\u201cAll I did was pray to God\u201d &#8211; ADF UK supported legal defence, considering appeal\u00a0<\/b><\/li><\/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-7acdc912 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7acdc912\" 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=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-1024x768.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-62915\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" 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-744b5409 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"744b5409\" 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 (16<\/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 for praying silently in an abortion \u201cbuffer zone\u201d in Bournemouth has been found guilty in a shock ruling from 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 charged 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><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-30a10144 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"30a10144\" 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\">\u201cToday, the court has decided that certain thoughts \u2013 silent thoughts \u2013 can be illegal in the United Kingdom.<\/span>That cannot be right.\"\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, convicted for silently praying<\/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-39d8f9e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39d8f9e6\" 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\">The Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of \u00a39,000. A conditional discharge is a type of conviction that means Smith-Connor will only be sentenced if he is convicted of any future offences in the next two years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In its decision, the court reasoned that his prayer amounted to \u201cdisapproval of abortion\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">because at one point his head was seen slightly bowed and his hands were clasped.<\/span><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-2eb9b62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2eb9b62\" 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\">Responding to the ruling, Smith-Connor stated:<\/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\">Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts \u2013 silent thoughts \u2013 can be illegal in the United Kingdom. That cannot be right. All I did was pray to God, in the privacy of my own mind \u2013 and yet I stand convicted as a criminal?<\/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><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Despite battling bankruptcy warnings and being forced to cut \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><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-238c9bca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"238c9bca\" 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\">Interrogated for a prayer<\/h2>\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-7442d50e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7442d50e\" 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-2b703292\" data-id=\"2b703292\" 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-3cf44af2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3cf44af2\" 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>what is the nature of your prayer<\/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 style=\"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 ); background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk\/Assets\/Crime-safety-and-emergencies\/PSPOs\/Ophir-Road-and-surrounding-area-Public-Spaces-Protection-Order-PSPO.pdf\">Read the full text of the Public Spaces Protection Order here.<\/a><\/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-2e2837de\" data-id=\"2e2837de\" 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-6862c05c elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"6862c05c\" 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\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-6fd5a899 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6fd5a899\" 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\">Commenting on the trial and the use of public funds ahead of the verdict, politician Miriam Cates said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/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.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><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\">The defence contended that Adam\u2019s prayerful thoughts and the fact that he held certain beliefs and opinions could not in themselves amount to a crime, particularly when he stood peacefully and silently on a public street.\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\">Smith-Connor did not outwardly manifest his prayer by kneeling, speaking, or holding any signs. 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 facility and did not engage with any other person.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Responding to today\u2019s ruling, Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF UK, said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cThis is a legal turning point of immense proportions. A man has been convicted today because of the content of his thoughts \u2013 his prayers to God \u2013 on the public streets of England. We can hardly sink any lower in our neglect of basic fundamental freedoms of free speech and thought. We will look closely at the judgment and \u00a0are considering options to appeal. Human rights are for all people \u2013 no matter their view on abortion.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span 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 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\">\u00a0October. 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. But 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.\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, are protected by international legal provisions on freedom of thought and speech. Yet 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\">This is a watershed moment for British freedoms, and one the public must not take lightly.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Commenting on the trial, Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh MP said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\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<\/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-3ca30ea2 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3ca30ea2\" 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-7a1d653a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a1d653a\" 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: Adam Smith-Connor; Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK<\/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-11007095 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"11007095\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"11007095\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"adam_praying_hero.webp\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjMwMTksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL2FkYW1fcHJheWluZ19oZXJvLndlYnAiLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiIxMTAwNzA5NSJ9\">\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_hero-1024x683.webp\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"683\" 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\/Adam-Praying-outside-court-scaled.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"11007095\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Adam Praying outside court\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjI5MTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL0FkYW0tUHJheWluZy1vdXRzaWRlLWNvdXJ0LXNjYWxlZC5qcGVnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMTEwMDcwOTUifQ%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 elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"11007095\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Image\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjI5MzAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL2ltYWdlLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjExMDA3MDk1In0%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=\"11007095\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Jeremiah-Igunnubole-200x200-1-1\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjI3NjAsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL0plcmVtaWFoLUlndW5udWJvbGUtMjAweDIwMC0xLTEuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiMTEwMDcwOTUifQ%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, found guilty of breaching censorial \u201cbuffer zone\u201d with prayerful thoughts in his mind \u201cAll I did was pray to God\u201d &#8211; ADF UK supported legal defence, considering appeal\u00a0 DORSET (16th October 2024) \u2013 A man charged for praying silently in an abortion \u201cbuffer zone\u201d in Bournemouth has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":62915,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[736],"tags":[1215,942,1069,1216,1217,898],"class_list":["post-62990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-abortion-en-gb","tag-adam","tag-buffer-zones-2","tag-freedom-of-thought-en-gb","tag-thoughtcrime-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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