UK Christian convicted for praying near abortion clinic

A British army veteran who served in Afghanistan was found guilty on October 16 for silently praying near an abortion clinic in England. Adam Smith-Connor violated a Public Spaces Protection Order, as ruled by Poole Magistrates Court in Poole, near Bournemouth, Dorset. The court issued a conditional discharge, meaning he will only face sentencing if convicted of further offenses within the next two years.

After the verdict, Smith-Connor expressed disbelief, stating, “Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – 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, and yet I stand convicted as a criminal.” He explained that while praying, he was thinking of his son, who had been aborted years earlier.

Smith-Connor had slightly bowed his head and clasped his hands in prayer on a public green within a buffer zone near the abortion clinic on Orphir Road, Bournemouth, in November 2022. He was confronted by police, who asked, “What is the nature of your prayer?”

The buffer zone, enforced under a Public Spaces Protection Order, was established to prevent pro-life demonstrations near the clinic, including prayers or offers of help to women. Smith-Connor’s defense argued that his silent prayers were not a crime, as he stood peacefully, speaking to no one and with his back to the facility.

The court also ordered Smith-Connor, a father of two, to pay £9,000 ($11,700) in prosecution costs. Reflecting on his military service, Smith-Connor said, “I served for 20 years in the army reserves, including a tour in Afghanistan, to protect the fundamental freedoms that this country is built upon… It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thought-crimes are now being prosecuted in the U.K.”

Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, described the ruling as a “legal turning point,” criticizing the conviction for the content of Smith-Connor’s thoughts. ADF International, which supports Smith-Connor, is considering an appeal. Senior Member of Parliament Sir Edward Leigh condemned the verdict, stating, “It is disgraceful that in Britain in 2024 someone can be put on trial for praying silently in his head.”

Critics, including former MP Miriam Cates, also raised concerns about the significant resources spent prosecuting Smith-Connor. She called it “outrageous” that taxpayer money was used to pursue a case of “thought-crime” in 2024.

Buffer zones, which are in place in five U.K. councils, are set to expand across the country under the Public Order Act on October 31. This legislation will ban any attempt to “influence” a woman’s decision regarding abortion services, but critics, like Igunnubole, argue the law’s vague language could criminalize peaceful conversations or silent prayers.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a pro-life advocate, was also recently arrested for silently praying near an abortion clinic but later received compensation after challenging the authorities.