A British court has sentenced military veteran Adam Smith-Connor for silently praying near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth. Smith-Connor was convicted for praying in violation of a law that bans all forms of prayer, protest, and demonstration within a set distance of abortion clinics. He received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £9,000 ($11,700) in court costs.
Smith-Connor’s silent prayer was in memory of his son, who was aborted 22 years ago. Reflecting on the conviction, he said, “Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts — silent thoughts — can be illegal in the United Kingdom.”
The case is drawing attention to the growing concerns over religious freedom in the UK, where laws prohibiting prayer near abortion clinics are becoming increasingly strict. Earlier this year, another pro-life activist, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, was detained for praying near a Birmingham clinic but later received compensation after her wrongful arrest.
Pro-life and religious organizations are challenging these laws, arguing that they infringe on basic freedoms. Despite these efforts, the UK government is set to expand the ban on prayer within 150 meters (492 feet) of clinics in England and Wales by the end of October, with even stricter restrictions already in place in Scotland.