{"id":63829,"date":"2024-10-25T12:53:07","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T10:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=63829"},"modified":"2024-10-25T14:07:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T12:07:51","slug":"almost-60000-signatories-ask-keir-starmer-to-protect-freedom-of-thought-as-army-veteran-prosecuted-for-silent-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/open-letter-to-starmer","title":{"rendered":"Almost 60,000 signatories ask Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, as army veteran prosecuted for silent prayer\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"63829\" class=\"elementor elementor-63829\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3b0a1f66 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3b0a1f66\" 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-566b1293\" data-id=\"566b1293\" 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-2c7718f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c7718f0\" 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 \t<li><strong>Public letter to PM pleads: \u201cact urgently to ensure that thought is never buffered, censored or criminalised.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Army veteran convicted for silently praying near abortion facility last week<\/strong><\/li>\n\n \t<li><strong>Government set to roll out censorial \u201cbuffer zones\u201d around every abortion facility from 31st October\u00a0<\/strong><\/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-1f227726 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1f227726\" 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\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-2-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63835\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-2-2048x1366.jpg 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-389302cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"389302cb\" 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=\"auto\">LONDON (25<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> October 2024) &#8211; <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">57,900 members of the public have signed an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/citizengo.org\/en-gb\/fr\/1207-help-ensure-that-our-thoughts-cannot-be-criminalised-\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">open letter to Keir Starmer<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in light of an army veteran being prosecuted for his silent prayers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The letter, addressed to the UK Prime Minister, reads: \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Freedom of thought is our most basic and precious of rights \u2013 and has long been recognised in British law and every major human rights document from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights onwards.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The letter highlights the plight of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/silent-prayer-arrest-payout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Isabel Vaughan-Spruce<\/a>, who received a \u00a313,000 payout from West Midlands Police after being unlawfully arrested twice for imperceptibly praying in her head in a Birmingham \u201cbuffer zone\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\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-4f0160c9 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"4f0160c9\" 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\">\"A failure to protect thought and peaceful speech anywhere,<\/span> creates a threat to these rights everywhere.\"\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\">- Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK<\/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-7078398 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7078398\" 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>Also noted is the case of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/consensual-conversation-on-trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Livia Tossici-Bolt<\/a>, who will face trial in March 2025 for inviting consensual conversation in the buffer zone by holding a sign reading &#8220;Here to talk, if you want&#8221;.<\/p><p><a 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 ); background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/cases\/fr-sean\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Father<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/cases\/fr-sean\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0Sean Gough<\/a>\u00a0is also highlighted, having been fully acquitted of all charges after facing trial for praying while holding a sign near a Birmingham abortion facility reading &#8220;praying for freedom of speech&#8221;, and having a small pro-life sticker on his parked car inside the buffer zone.<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The letter further references army veteran\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/guilty-army-vet-convicted-for-praying-silently-near-abortion-facility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adam-Smith Connor<\/a>, who was found guilty last week for praying silently in his head near an abortion facility in the first \u201cthoughtcrime\u201d conviction of modern British history. Bournemouth, Christchurch &amp; Poole Council spent over \u00a3100,000 of public funds prosecuting the father of two, hiring a Kings Council, despite being on the brink of bankruptcy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\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-58c35c95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"58c35c95\" 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 slippery slope of censorship<\/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-765a5490 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"765a5490\" 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-47418a34\" data-id=\"47418a34\" 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-7270359 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7270359\" 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\">Christian legal charity ADF UK supported the defence of all four individuals prosecuted on the basis of their silent prayers in abortion &#8220;buffer zone&#8221; areas.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ADF UK legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole explained that the different outcomes in each case represent a\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cprofound and troubling lack of clarity in the law, and an undue subjectivity allowing individual officers and local authorities to determine whether silent prayer can be considered a crime on any given day.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/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-4d50f5f9\" data-id=\"4d50f5f9\" 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-6037f952 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"6037f952\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=K9lQmNAxQfE&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_K9lQmNAxQfE_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-53e27c91 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"53e27c91\" 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=\"auto\">Alluding to recent fears regarding \u201ctwo-tier policing\u201d in the UK, where those with conservative viewpoints are disproportionately censored and punished for voicing their opinions, the letter continues:<\/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=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cThe slippery slope is clear; if the criminal law requires us to refrain from \u2018offensive\u2019 thoughts anywhere, there is simply no logical endpoint. Today, it\u2019s pro-life views that offend progressive social orthodoxies; tomorrow, it could be gender-critical views and gender-critical buffer zones. A genuinely democratic society must champion diversity of thought and the free and frank exchange of views.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/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-36a39cbd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"36a39cbd\" 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\">Silent prayer under threat of criminalisation <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcdb971 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fcdb971\" 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\">Vaughan-Spruce, Smith-Connor, Gough and Tossici-Bolt were all charged for allegedly breaching a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d, implemented by five local council authorities via a \u201cPublic Spaces Protection Order\u201d, which bans acts of \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">approval or disapproval<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d of abortion \u2013 but have been interpreted by officers to even include thoughts inside someone\u2019s mind.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The UK government are set to roll out \u201cbuffer zone\u201d legislation across the country from 31<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">st<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0October, making it a crime to \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">influence<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d anybody\u2019s \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">decision to access&#8230;abortion services<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d within 150m of an abortion facility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Free speech campaigners have raised concerns about the loose wording of this legislation, which could potentially be applied to criminalise friends and family who offer advice, or engage in consensual conversations about abortion, near the facility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Commenting on the upcoming enforcement of national buffer zones, Jeremiah Igunnubole said:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWe 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\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cYet 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\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\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\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis 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=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To read the public letter in full,\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/citizengo.org\/en-gb\/fr\/1207-help-ensure-that-our-thoughts-cannot-be-criminalised-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here.<\/a><\/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-4c9b7a81 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4c9b7a81\" 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-7dd38128 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7dd38128\" 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: ADF UK Legal Counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole with individuals prosecuted for their silent prayers: Adam Smith-Connor; Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, Livia Tossici-Bolt, Fr. Sean Gough<\/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-3e42ded6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"3e42ded6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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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\/Livia.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"3e42ded6\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Livia\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjM4NDcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMTBcL0xpdmlhLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjNlNDJkZWQ2In0%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\/Livia-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<\/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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-635a685 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"635a685\" 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-f766aae\" data-id=\"f766aae\" 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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-37d2601 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"37d2601\" 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-ef83342\" data-id=\"ef83342\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\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-61898a0\" data-id=\"61898a0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\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\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>Public letter to PM pleads: \u201cact urgently to ensure that thought is never buffered, censored or criminalised.\u201d Army veteran convicted for silently praying near abortion facility last week Government set to roll out censorial \u201cbuffer zones\u201d around every abortion facility from 31st October\u00a0 LONDON (25th October 2024) &#8211; 57,900 members of the public have signed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":63835,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[736],"tags":[1215,1069,899,909,898],"class_list":["post-63829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-abortion-en-gb","tag-buffer-zones-2","tag-free-speech-en-gb","tag-religious-freedom-en-gb","tag-uk-en-gb"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Almost 60,000 signatories ask Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, as army veteran prosecuted for silent prayer\u00a0 - ADF International<\/title>\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\/open-letter-to-starmer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Almost 60,000 signatories ask Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, as army veteran prosecuted for silent prayer\u00a0 Almost 60,000 signatories ask Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, as army veteran prosecuted for silent prayer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Public letter to PM pleads: \u201cact urgently to ensure that thought is never buffered, censored or criminalised.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/open-letter-to-starmer\" \/>\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=\"2024-10-25T10:53:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-25T12:07:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/free_speech_isabel_clear.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Almost 60,000 signatories ask Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, as army veteran prosecuted for silent prayer\u00a0 Almost 60,000 signatories ask Keir Starmer to protect freedom of thought, as army veteran prosecuted for silent prayer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Public letter to PM pleads: \u201cact urgently to ensure that thought is never buffered, censored or criminalised.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC00006-scaled-1.jpg\" \/>\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\" 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