{"id":70551,"date":"2025-02-28T09:16:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T08:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=70551"},"modified":"2025-02-28T10:27:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:27:26","slug":"gove-it-is-wrong-to-say-that-someone-cannot-pray-silently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer","title":{"rendered":"GOVE: \u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently\u201d\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"70551\" class=\"elementor elementor-70551\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-545b97b3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"545b97b3\" 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-3c9f8378\" data-id=\"3c9f8378\" 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-23327202 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23327202\" 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><strong>UK faces mounting backlash against silent prayer prosecutions as a result of abortion \u201cbuffer zones\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>J.D. Vance highlights \u201c<em>infringements on free speech<\/em>\u201d during Starmer\u2019s trip to Washington<\/strong><\/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-0a31fee elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"0a31fee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&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=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GOVE.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\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-74d83aca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74d83aca\" 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><em><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">Rt. Hon. Michael Gove speaking to Chopper&#8217;s Political Podcast on GB News. Clip begins 29:52, full episode <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3JT3tB8mzrQ&amp;list=PLA2T8B4OekbzlTrhB2d1hmqkHBq7mR-sM&amp;index=1\">available here.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/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-ddf795e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ddf795e\" 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><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">LONDON (28<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW215623649 BCX0\" data-fontsize=\"12\">th<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\"><strong> February 2025)<\/strong> &#8211; <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">Speaking <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">to Christopher Hope <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">on Chopper\u2019s Politics Podcast, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">former justice secretary <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">Michael Gove <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\">has<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW215623649 BCX0\"> condemned the prosecution of individuals simply for praying silently near abortion facilities in Great Britain.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW215623649 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\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-3b87db9b elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"3b87db9b\" 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\">\u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray \u2013 silently \u2013<\/span> because you have a particular view on abortion... \"\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\">- Rt. Hon. Michael Gove<\/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-325c484a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"325c484a\" 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><em>&#8220;<span class=\"TextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\">It is wrong to say that someone cannot pray \u2013 silently \u2013 because you have a particular view on abortion<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\">&#8230;For me, free speech is as close to a fundamental principle as any. And so is freedom of worship,&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW8295259 BCX0\">commented Gove.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While the current Spectator Editor was clear that \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">genuine intimidation<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d was unacceptable, he expressed incredulity that prayer should be considered a crime in this context, adding \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">prayer&#8230;that\u2019s at the foundation of the country&#8230;I\u2019m not saying that everyone should believe, but you can\u2019t understand Britain without understanding our Judeo-Christian tradition&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cFreedom of conscience and freedom of religion are fundamental freedoms,\u201d <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he concluded.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Jeremiah Igunnubole, Legal Counsel for ADF International, supporting the legal defense of Adam Smith-Connor and others prosecuted for praying inside &#8220;buffer zones&#8221;, responded:<\/b><\/p><p>\u201c<i>The policing of people\u2019s very thoughts in \u201cbuffer zones\u201d is the most extreme example of censorship across the West. While crime festers on the <\/i><em>streets of England, it\u2019s unbelievable that police time and resources are focused on criminalising peaceful Christians, who simply want to pray.<\/em><\/p><p><em>\u201cNobody can deny that two-tier policing is a problem here; nobody can deny that we are riding roughshod over freedom of speech and of thought. I thank Michael Gove, VP Vance and the many other voices who are issuing this wake-up call \u2013 we must restore basic<\/em> <em>standards of\u00a0human\u00a0rights.\u201d<\/em><\/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-863c030 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"863c030\" 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\">U.S. call out Britain for silent prayer crackdown <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44a1cb74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44a1cb74\" 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 class=\"TextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\">The comments surface as Keir Starmer concludes his meeting with U.S. President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, who in yesterday&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/implausibleblog\/status\/1895190808099541217\" target=\"_blank\">press conference<\/a>&nbsp;referred to &#8220;infringements on free speech&#8221; taking place in the UK which the world leaders would &#8220;discuss at lunch&#8221;.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\">Earlier this month, J.D. Vance&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\">called out the UK\u2019s censorial \u201cbuffer zones\u201d at the Munich Security<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW100484253 BCX0\"> Conference.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW100484253 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Listing egregious examples of authoritarian censorship across Europe, Vance highlighted the \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">most concerning<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d case of Adam Smith-Connor \u2013 the army veteran and father of two in Britain who was convicted in November 2024 for praying silently, for a few minutes, on a public space across the road from an abortion facility, where a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d was enforced.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reflecting on his concerns for Europe, the Vice-President said:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c\u2026<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">perhaps most concerning, I look to our very dear friends, the United Kingdom, where the backslide away from conscience rights has placed the basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular in the crosshairs.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cA little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith Connor, a 51 year old physiotherapist and an Army veteran, with the heinous crime of standing 50m from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes, not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/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-50da9270 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"50da9270\" 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\">Prayer in Scottish Homes in Question<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eedcdae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eedcdae\" 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\">The Vice-President also raised concerns about a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d law in Scotland which could even impact freedom to pray in one\u2019s own home. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This week, the architect of the law \u2013 Green Party MSP Gillian Mackay \u2013 conceded to the BBC that prayer with clasped hands could be a crime, \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">depending on who\u2019s passing by the window\u201d. <\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The same MSP had accused J.D. Vance of spreading \u201cmisinformation\u201d that private prayer in one\u2019s home within 200m of an abortion facility could be a crime in Scotland.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\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-07388ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"07388ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&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=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gillian-window.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\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-bba5e1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bba5e1c\" 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><em>Gillian Mackay, interviewed on BBC \u201cScotcast\u201d podcast this week.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/iplayer\/episode\/m0028hl4\/scotcast-abortion-buffer-zones\">Full episode available on BBC iPlayer<\/a>, clip begins 24.07<\/em><\/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-58f09e46 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"58f09e46\" 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-636f4e40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"636f4e40\" 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, ADF International<\/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-4182e6f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"4182e6f7\" 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 class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\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\/2025\/02\/cases_adam_clear.webp\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4182e6f7\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Cases Adam Clear.webp\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjkyMzIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDJcL2Nhc2VzX2FkYW1fY2xlYXIud2VicCIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjQxODJlNmY3In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/cases_adam_clear.webp\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" 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\/01\/adam_hero-2.webp\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4182e6f7\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Adam Hero 2\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NjMyMDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMDFcL2FkYW1faGVyby0yLndlYnAiLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiI0MTgyZTZmNyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/adam_hero-2-1024x682.webp\" 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\/2021\/05\/Jeremiah_Igunnubole_400x400px.webp\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4182e6f7\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Jeremiah_Igunnubole_400x400px\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDM2ODgsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyMVwvMDVcL0plcmVtaWFoX0lndW5udWJvbGVfNDAweDQwMHB4LndlYnAiLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiI0MTgyZTZmNyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Jeremiah_Igunnubole_400x400px.webp\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" aria-label=\"Jeremiah Igunnubole of ADF UK\" 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>UK faces mounting backlash against silent prayer prosecutions as a result of abortion \u201cbuffer zones\u201d\u00a0 J.D. Vance highlights \u201cinfringements on free speech\u201d during Starmer\u2019s trip to Washington https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GOVE.mp4 Rt. Hon. Michael Gove speaking to Chopper&#8217;s Political Podcast on GB News. Clip begins 29:52, full episode available here. LONDON (28th February 2025) &#8211; Speaking to Christopher [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":70552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[736],"tags":[1069,899,1284,898],"class_list":["post-70551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-buffer-zones-2","tag-free-speech-en-gb","tag-silent-prayer-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) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>GOVE: \u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently\u201d\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\/gove-silent-prayer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"GOVE: \u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently\u201d\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"UK faces mounting backlash against silent prayer prosecutions as a result of abortion \u201cbuffer zones\u201d\u00a0 J.D. Vance highlights \u201cinfringements on free speech\u201d during Starmer\u2019s trip to Washington https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GOVE.mp4 Rt. Hon. Michael Gove speaking to Chopper&#8217;s Political Podcast on GB News. Clip begins 29:52, full episode available here. LONDON (28th February 2025) &#8211; Speaking to Christopher [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer\" \/>\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=\"2025-02-28T08:16:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-28T09:27:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Portrait-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\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=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Philipp Bues\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#\/schema\/person\/6b776fc8535453c6aad8a6f9d78e6141\"},\"headline\":\"GOVE: \u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently\u201d\u00a0\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-28T08:16:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-28T09:27:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer\"},\"wordCount\":715,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Portrait-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"buffer zones\",\"free speech\",\"silent prayer\",\"UK\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer\",\"name\":\"GOVE: \u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently\u201d\u00a0 - ADF International\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Portrait-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-28T08:16:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-28T09:27:26+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Portrait-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Portrait-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/gove-silent-prayer#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"GOVE: \u201cIt is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently\u201d\u00a0\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/\",\"name\":\"ADF International\",\"description\":\"Protecting Fundamental Freedoms. 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