UK army vet to appeal silent prayer conviction 

CV NEWS FEED // British Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor is appealing his conviction for praying silently near an abortion clinic after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that such actions are “not necessarily” an offense.

In an emailed press release from the Alliance Defending Freedom United Kingdom (ADF UK), Smith-Connor’s lawyer wrote that the CPS today published a guidance stating that silent prayer in an abortion “buffer zone” is “not necessarily” an offense.

The United Kingdom has established “buffer zones” around abortion clinics, where it is illegal to protest in any way. Smith-Connor was found guilty of violating this buffer zone by silently standing near an abortion clinic while practicing mental prayer. He was fined £9,000 (approximately $11,578 USD) in legal costs.

“Surely a silent thought cannot be a crime. With support from ADF UK, I’m pursuing an appeal against my conviction,” Smith-Connor stated. “The government simply cannot be allowed to determine the content of thoughts and prayers, depending on where you’re standing.”

The press release continued that beginning October 31, the United Kingdom will establish “buffer zones” around every abortion clinic in England and Wales. These buffer zones will be federally regulated (instead of locally regulated as they currently are) and will be 150 meters (492 feet) in radius, which is slightly less than the length of two soccer fields placed back-to-back.

The new law will punish anyone who “influences” another person’s “access” to abortion. The ADF’s press release states that these vague definitions mean that somebody could be prosecuted for an innocent conversation that happens to take place in the 150-meter radius of an abortion clinic.

>>UK MAN CONVICTED FOR SILENT PRAYER NEAR ABORTION CLINIC: ‘ALL I DID WAS PRAY TO GOD’<<