UK woman arrested for silently praying across from abortion clinic

Conservatives and free speech activists on Twitter railed against a recent video depicting police interrogating and ultimately arresting a pro-life woman who was silently praying outside a U.K. abortion clinic.

Those who watched the woman’s arrest after admitting she was “praying in my head” were appalled. Some claimed this was proof that Great Britain had become a dystopia.

UK Supreme Court to rule TOMORROW on “censorship zone” human rights concerns outside abortion facilities - ADF UK

https://adf.uk/supreme-court-rule-on-censorship-zones/

The ruling will consider whether censorship zones represent a disproportionate interference into the fundamental freedoms of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of expression; and freedom of assembly.

Woman Arrested, Charged With "Thought Crime" for Silently Praying

https://www.lifenews.com/2022/12/20/woman-arrested-charged-with-thought-crime-for-silently-praying-outside-abortion-facility/

The woman who was arrested, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, is the director of the U.K. March for Life.

According to Alliance Defending Freedom UK (ADF UK), Vaughan-Spruce “was standing near the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham in an area ADF UK called a ‘censorship zone,’
when police approached her after an onlooker complained she might be praying outside the abortion facility.”

UK woman arrested for praying across from abortion clinic

https://nypost.com/2022/12/22/uk-woman-arrested-for-praying-across-from-abortion-clinic/

English woman arrested for praying near abortion clinic wins case

https://www.foxnews.com/world/english-woman-arrested-praying-near-abortion-clinic-wins-case

Woman arrested and charged for silent prayer near abortion clinic

https://catholicherald.co.uk/woman-arrested-and-charged-for-silent-prayer-near-abortion-clinic/

'Abhorrently Wrong' Woman Arrested for Praying Silently in Front of Abortion Clinic

https://ijr.com/abhorrently-wrong-woman-arrested-for-praying-silently-in-front-of-abortion-clinic/

Alliance Defending Freedom UK

https://adf.uk/woman-arrested-for-prayer/

WIN for Grandmother arrested for prayer walk – but parts of UK seek to make public prayer ban permanent

https://adf.uk/public-prayer-ban/

Council “community safety” officers confront women praying in Bournemouth, even outside of abortion “censorship zone”

https://adf.uk/bournemouth-prayer-ban/

On a free vote with cross-party support, an amendment was inserted into the Public Order Bill by the House of Commons on Tuesday 18 October. Clause 9 establishes designated areas (buffer zones) around abortion clinics where interference with people accessing or providing abortion services would be an offence.

Section 19(1) of the Human Rights Act provides a mechanism to notify Parliamentarians if a statement cannot be made that a clause is compatible with the ECHR, but this does not fetter the right of Parliament to legislate in such a way, should it wish.

I am unable, but only because of clause 9, to make a statement that, in my view, the provisions of the Bill are presently compatible with Convention rights but the Government nevertheless wishes to proceed with the Bill.

The Government has published a separate ECHR memorandum with its assessment of the compatibility of the Bill’s provisions with the Convention rights: this memorandum is available on the Government website.

I am sure this House will naturally wish to debate and scrutinise this amendment further. I look forwarding to continue working with all colleagues on this legislation as the Bill moves through Parliament.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-10-24/hlws333

original video found on New York Post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXURFRSUS9U