
A British court has convicted Adam Smith-Connor, a military veteran, for silently praying near an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, England. Prosecutors argued that Smith-Connor violated a law banning all forms of prayer, protest, and demonstrations near abortion facilities. Smith-Connor, who was praying for his unborn son lost to abortion 22 years ago, received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £9,000 (about $11,700) in court fees.
Smith-Connor’s conviction has sparked significant concern among Christian and pro-life groups, who argue that the ruling criminalizes private thoughts and prayers. Reflecting on the decision, Smith-Connor stated, “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?”
The case has drawn comparisons to a similar incident earlier this year when pro-life activist Isabel Vaughan-Spruce received compensation after being wrongfully detained for silently praying near a Birmingham abortion clinic. These cases have heightened concerns among religious groups who warn that such laws violate the right to freedom of religion.
The British government continues to enforce and expand these restrictions, with new bans on prayer within 150 meters (about 492 feet) of abortion clinics set to take effect in England and Wales by the end of October. This expansion coincides with All Souls’ Day, a Roman Catholic feast in which prayers are offered for the dead. Meanwhile, in Scotland, the law prohibits prayer within 200 meters (about 656 feet) of abortion clinics, and activists fear that private prayers in homes within these zones could also be criminalized.
Christian groups are working to challenge these laws, arguing they infringe on fundamental religious freedoms and individual rights.