UK Army Vet Charged for Praying Near Abortion Clinic
A Former British Army Reservist Warns of Threats to Fundamental Freedoms in the UK
A former British Army reservist, Adam Smith-Connor, who is facing criminal charges for silently praying near an abortion clinic in the UK last year, has issued a warning to his fellow countrymen. He believes that the very freedoms he fought to protect are now in danger.
“You might think this is a story from Orwell’s 1984 – but in fact this is happening in England in 2023,” Smith-Connor said in a November 9 news release. “‘Thoughtcrimes’ shouldn’t be prosecuted in the UK.”
Smith-Connor, a father and a military veteran with 20 years of service, including time in Afghanistan, recounted his encounter with local council officers when he silently prayed outside the BPAS abortion clinic in Bournemouth, England, in November 2022.
Bodycam footage captured Smith-Connor, 50, engaging with authorities who questioned the nature of his prayer. He explained that he was praying for men and women considering abortion, drawing from his own experience over two decades ago when he arranged and paid for his girlfriend to abort their son.
However, the authorities informed him that he had violated a local “buffer zone” ordinance, known as a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which, according to Smith-Connor’s attorneys, prohibits the expression of approval or disapproval of abortion, including through prayer.
A Council spokesperson told the Daily Mail that Smith-Connor was charged with breaching a term of prohibition 4g of the PSPO on August 9.
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Smith-Connor’s legal defense argued that he was issued a penalty fine notice for simply silently praying in his mind for a few minutes with his back turned away from the clinic. The notice stated that he was being charged for “praying for his deceased son.”
During an August hearing at Poole Magistrates’ Court, Smith-Connor pleaded not guilty. He expressed his concern about the erosion of freedom of thought in the UK, stating, “I fought to defend our freedoms – but now my own freedom of thought is in jeopardy.”
Smith-Connor’s warning about the Orwellian tactics emerging in the United Kingdom comes just days before Remembrance Sunday, a day when the nation honors deceased veterans who fought to uphold their freedoms.
“Sadly, today, we are in danger of dismantling the values for which they died,” Smith-Connor said.
Smith-Connor is scheduled to face trial on November 16. His legal counsel, Jeremiah Igunnubole, from ADF UK, raised concerns about the democratic accountability of the charges, as the council both drafted the PSPO and is prosecuting those who violate it.
“If Adam had been thinking about an issue other than abortion – for example, climate change – then there would be no issue raised here,” Igunnubole said.
Igunnubole also highlighted that Smith-Connor is not the only individual facing penalties for “thoughtcrimes” in the UK. Last year, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a 45-year-old charity volunteer, was arrested for allegedly breaking a temporary PSPO on four separate occasions after praying outside a BPAS abortion clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
These incidents follow previous cases where a praying woman in Southern England was told to leave a local censorship zone by the police and a grandmother from Liverpool was arrested and fined for silently praying near an abortion facility during the COVID lockdown.
What parallels does Smith-Connor draw between his ordeal and George Orwell’s novel, 1984?
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The incident involving Adam Smith-Connor has raised concerns about the erosion of fundamental freedoms in the UK. As a former British Army reservist, Smith-Connor is well aware of the sacrifices made to protect these very freedoms, making his warning even more significant.
In a news release on November 9, Smith-Connor drew parallels between his ordeal and George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984. He expressed disbelief that such “thoughtcrimes” are being prosecuted in England in 2023. This statement highlights the growing concern among many that the UK is heading down a dangerous path of suppressing free thought and expression.
Smith-Connor’s encounter with local council officers outside the BPAS abortion clinic in Bournemouth sheds light on the extent of the issue. Bodycam footage captured the interaction, wherein Smith-Connor explained that he was silently praying for men and women considering abortion. It is worth noting that his prayer was based on his personal experience, having arranged and paid for an abortion with his girlfriend two decades ago.
However, the authorities informed Smith-Connor that he had violated a local ”buffer zone” ordinance called a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). According to his attorneys, this ordinance prohibits any expression of approval or disapproval of abortion, including through prayer. This incident raises concerns about the limits being placed on freedom of religious expression and the right to peacefully protest.
The fact that Smith-Connor, a father and military veteran with 20 years of service, including time spent in Afghanistan, is now facing criminal charges for exercising his right to peaceful prayer is deeply troubling. It begs the question: what other fundamental freedoms are at risk of being curtailed in the UK?
The British government and local authorities should take heed of Smith-Connor’s warning. The safeguarding of fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion, is essential in maintaining a democratic society. Any attempts to restrict these valuable rights undermine the very foundations upon which the UK is built.
It is crucial for citizens across the country to be aware of the threats to their freedoms and to stand up against any encroachments on their rights. Adam Smith-Connor’s case serves as a stark reminder that complacency can lead to the erosion of the very values that we hold dear.
In this critical moment, it is essential for civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and concerned citizens to come together to rally against any measures that threaten our fundamental freedoms. The protection of these rights should be a top priority for the British government and its citizens.
The alarming incident involving Adam Smith-Connor should serve as a wake-up call to the UK as a whole. The defense of fundamental freedoms requires vigilance and a commitment to upholding the democratic principles upon which our society thrives. We cannot allow Orwell’s dystopian vision to become a reality in our country. It is our duty to protect and preserve the freedoms that countless individuals have fought for throughout history.
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