{"id":83793,"date":"2026-01-29T14:04:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/christian-woman-criminally-charged-for-silent-prayer-pleads-not-guilty-in-first-hearing"},"modified":"2026-02-10T16:02:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:02:39","slug":"christian-woman-criminally-charged-for-silent-prayer-pleads-not-guilty-in-first-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/christian-woman-criminally-charged-for-silent-prayerpleads-not-guiltyin-first-hearing","title":{"rendered":"Christian woman criminally charged for silent prayer\u00a0pleads \u2018not guilty\u2019\u00a0in first hearing\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"83793\" class=\"elementor elementor-83793 elementor-83769\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f2af895 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f2af895\" 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-757fb69\" data-id=\"757fb69\" 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-6bb8b505 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6bb8b505\" 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><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Isabel Vaughan-Spruce\u00a0charged\u00a0because she\u00a0stood in the vicinity of\u00a0an abortion facility and silently prayed. ADF International supports her legal\u00a0defence<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Today, she pleaded \u2018not guilty\u2019. Trial dates fixed for 6 to 9 October<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Defence\u00a0argued charges fall outside scope of\u00a0\u2018buffer zone\u2019 law\u00a0and\u00a0are contrary to\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce\u2019s\u00a0Article 9\u00a0ECHR\u00a0right to freedom of thought and religion<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/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-4644bd95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4644bd95\" 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\/2026\/01\/Isabel-praying-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-83590\" alt=\"Christian woman Isabel vaughan-spruce praying silently outside abortion facility\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Isabel-praying-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Isabel-praying-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Isabel-praying-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Isabel-praying.jpg 1152w\" 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-4d95f8ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4d95f8ce\" 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\">BIRMINGHAM\u202f(29 January\u202f2026)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A Christian woman criminally charged because she \u201cstood outside\u201d an abortion facility in Birmingham and silently prayed appeared in court for a first hearing today and pleaded \u00abnot guilty\u00bb. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Charity volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who\u00a0was charged\u00a0under the Public Order Act 2023\u00a0last December by West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for silently praying in an abortion\u00a0centre\u00a0\u201cbuffer zone\u201d, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates\u2019 Court.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The trial\u00a0has been fixed for 6 to 9 October.\u00a0ADF International is supporting her legal\u00a0defence.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The\u00a0defence\u00a0today\u00a0argued\u00a0the charges\u00a0fall outside the scope\u00a0of Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, which introduced \u201cbuffer zones\u201d around all abortion facilities in the country.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023\u00a0prohibits\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cinfluencing any person\u2019s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">within\u00a0150\u00a0metres\u00a0of an abortion facility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, Ms Vaughan-Spruce was charged because she \u201cstood outside\u201d the abortion facility. The Public Order Act does not mention mere presence, standing or silently praying in a \u201cbuffer zone\u201d as offences. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">CPS\u202fguidance\u202fon the law stipulates that silent prayer on its own is not enough to meet the threshold of criminality\u202funless it is accompanied by\u00a0evidence of\u00a0\u201covert\u201d activity.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The\u00a0defence\u00a0also argued that\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce did not intend\u00a0to influence anyone, as she was merely silently praying, and that the charge is\u00a0contrary to\u00a0her Article 9 ECHR right to freedom of thought and religion.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is the first time someone has been criminally charged\u202funder national \u201cbuffer zone\u201d legislation,\u202fwhich came into\u202fforce\u202fin October 2024.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">All\u202fprevious\u202fcourt cases\u202fregarding\u202fthe status of silent prayer took place in the context of\u202f\u201cbuffer zones\u201d\u202fintroduced\u00a0by local authorities via Public Spaces Protection Orders, rather than\u202fthrough\u202fthis\u202fnew law.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce has previously been arrested twice for her silent prayers.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">She was cleared in court in February 2023 after her first arrest, and after being arrested a second time in March 2023, the police dropped their investigation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In August 2024,\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce won a payout of \u00a313,000 from West Midlands Police after she issued a claim for unlawful arrests and the breach of her human rights.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Today\u2019s hearing follows US Vice President JD Vance commenting on \u201cbuffer zone\u201d censorship at the Washington DC March for Life 2026 on Friday.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vice President Vance\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ADFIntl\/status\/2014789891343704245\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">said<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">:<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0why we speak up when other nations throw pro-life and pro-family advocates in prison for silent prayer. Which\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0seen way too much, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0got to stop.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The US Administration has\u00a0criticised\u00a0\u201cbuffer zone\u201d censorship in the UK on multiple occasions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ms Vaughan-Spruce said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThree years ago,\u00a0I was vindicated in Birmingham Magistrates\u2019 Court\u00a0after being charged for silently praying on a public street. Yet sadly that\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the end of things. I found myself in the same court today, charged again for my silent prayers.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cMy behaviour\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0changed in that time.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0simply stood inside an abortion \u2018buffer zone\u2019,\u00a0on a public street, and silently prayed\u2014meaning my thoughts were turned towards God.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0not held any posters, offered any leaflets, spoken with anyone or spoken\u00a0out loud\u00a0at all.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0not interacted with anyone in any way. Yet\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0being treated like a criminal. This is viewpoint discrimination. Standing is not a crime, silence is not a crime, thinking is not a crime.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jeremiah Igunnubole,\u00a0legal counsel for ADF International, said:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe fact that someone can be criminally prosecuted merely for their thoughts and beliefs should serve as a wake-up call to all those concerned with the state of freedom of expression and thought in Great Britain.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cParliament\u2019s express intention in passing the Public Order Act 2023 was to prevent harassment and intimidation, not peaceful conduct. Parliament certainly did not intend to introduce thoughtcrime.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIn this instance, Isabel has been charged for standing in the \u2018buffer zone\u2019.\u00a0But\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0clear this is nothing more than a cover for criminalising her pro-life beliefs and thoughts.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Investigated for a \u201cthoughtcrime\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On 18\u202fMarch 2025, West Midlands Police informed\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce she was under investigation for praying silently\u202fnear\u00a0an abortion\u00a0facility on\u202f27\u202fJanuary 2025, as well as several other\u202fsubsequent\u202fdates.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce has been peacefully praying in the same public area on a\u202fregular\u202fbasis for two decades.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With\u202flegal\u202fsupport from ADF International,\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce sent\u202fnumerous\u202frequests for clarification\u202fin\u202fproceeding\u202fmonths\u202fas to the status of her case, pointing out that the legislation does not function\u202fas a ban on her mere presence or on holding pro-life Christian\u202fbeliefs.\u202f\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Attorney General confirmed on 16\u202fDecember 2025, in response to a parliamentary question from\u202fformer Home Secretary\u202fSuella Braverman\u202fMP\u202fabout\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce\u2019s case, that:\u202f\u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Crown Prosecution Service has issued proceedings under Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, in relation to one case, since it was\u202fcommenced\u202fon 31 October 2024.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce had not yet\u202freceived\u202finformation about\u202fthe charging decision when this\u202fwritten answer\u202fwas\u202fissued by the Attorney\u00a0General, but\u202fwas informed hours later in a letter from West Midlands Police.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The length of time taken for a charging decision,\u00a0nearly one\u00a0year, was highly unusual for a case like hers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The charge read: \u201c[Isabel] stood outside of the Robert Clinic [the abortion facility]\u2026 intending that, or being reckless as to whether, it had the effect of influencing any person\u2019s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services at an abortion clinic.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Repeated injustice over silent \u201cthoughtcrime\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In 2023, the charitable volunteer was\u202facquitted in court after being arrested for praying in a local \u201cbuffer zone,\u201d\u202funder a Public Spaces Protection Order\u202fthat\u202fbanned \u201cexpressions of approval or disapproval\u201d of abortion. The incident occurred while the abortion facility was closed. The prosecution offered no evidence to support a conviction.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing,\u202fMs\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce\u202fwas arrested again for\u202fher\u202fsilent thoughts in the same location weeks later\u202fin March 2023, opening an\u00a0investigation that lasted several months. In August 2024,\u00a0Ms\u00a0Vaughan-Spruce successfully challenged her two unjust arrests and received a settlement from West Midlands Police of \u00a313,000.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On regular occasions, she has been approached by officers and asked if she is praying.\u202fOnce, she was\u202fobserved\u202fby two officers posted to watch her activities.<\/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-1ff4db50 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1ff4db50\" 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-7e9e8872 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e9e8872\" 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><em>Pictured: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, Jeremiah Igunnubole<\/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-47339f9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"47339f9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Jeremiah_Igunnubole_img_55_400x400px.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"47339f9b\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Jeremiah Igunnubole Img 55 400x400px\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6OTI5OSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2FkZmludGVybmF0aW9uYWwub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIyXC8wN1wvSmVyZW1pYWhfSWd1bm51Ym9sZV9pbWdfNTVfNDAweDQwMHB4LnBuZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjQ3MzM5ZjliIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Jeremiah_Igunnubole_img_55_400x400px.png\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" aria-label=\"Jeremiah Igunnubole\" 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 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href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/DSC00068-scaled-1.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"47339f9b\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"DSC00068 Scaled\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTQwMDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyMlwvMTJcL0RTQzAwMDY4LXNjYWxlZC0xLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjQ3MzM5ZjliIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/DSC00068-scaled-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"683\" aria-label=\"Isabel arrested in the 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> A Christian woman criminally charged because she \u201cstood outside\u201d an abortion facility in Birmingham and silently prayed appeared in court for a first hearing today and plead \u2018not guilty\u2019.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":83590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[25,1237,1213,67],"class_list":["post-83793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-free-speech","tag-isabel-vaughan-spruce","tag-silent-prayer","tag-uk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is 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