Posted on 10/26/2024 6:10:38 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Citizens in the UK have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for silently praying outside abortion clinics. Even organizing pro-life meetings in your own home may be a criminal offense.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (ADF UK)
Emma has strong feelings about abortion: She wears T-shirts that say things like “Pro-life and Proud.” A devout Catholic, she is a trustee of a pro-life activism group and regularly holds planning meetings at her flat in Edinburgh, Scotland. On her way to work at an office in the center of town, the 24-year-old passes the abortion facility at nearby Chalmers Hospital. Sometimes, she prays with rosary beads as she walks by.
But now she’s worried she could get arrested in her neighborhood—for wearing that T-shirt, for holding those meetings, or even for praying in her head.
On October 4, Emma, who asked not to be named, got a letter from the Scottish government. Addressed “Dear Resident,” its purpose was to alert her that her home, due to its proximity to the hospital, is now in an abortion censorship zone.
This is due to the UK’s brand-new “Safe Access” law, which came into effect September 24 and made it a criminal offense to do anything within 200 meters of an abortion facility that could “influence” someone’s decision to access, provide, or facilitate an abortion. In the Scottish government’s letter, Emma read that even “activities in a private place (such as a house) within the area could be an offence if they can be seen or heard within the Zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.”
“You can report a group or an individual that you think is breaking the law,” the letter added, before providing instructions on how to do so.
Emma couldn’t believe her eyes. The law carries a maximum fine of £10,000 (over $13,000). In June, it passed in The Scottish Parliament by 118 votes to one, following in the footsteps of Northern Ireland, which became the first country in the UK to enforce abortion censorship legislation last year. The rest of the UK is doing the same: On October 31, a similar law will come into effect in England and Wales; it was passed by Parliament in 2023. In these countries, the fine will be unlimited.
All of this legislation codifies—on a national level—a trend that has been creeping across the UK for a decade. Ten years ago, in 2014, Parliament empowered local councils to create and police their own antisocial behavior laws. The intention was to enhance “the professional capabilities and integrity of the police.” But since 2018, five UK districts have used these powers to aggressively limit what people can do, say, and even think, near abortion clinics. I spoke to four people who have fallen afoul of these restrictions, and a disturbing pattern emerged.
In November 2022, Adam Smith-Connor, now 51, a physiotherapist and veteran, was interrogated by local authorities in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, which had recently introduced an abortion censorship zone. His alleged crime was silently praying for three minutes while 50 meters from an abortion clinic. When council officers asked, “What is the nature of your prayer?” he replied: “I am praying for my son who is deceased,” referring to his unborn child that he and his then-girlfriend decided to abort two decades ago.....SNIP
No not Islam, the other official religion.
That’s because it’s sacrifice to Satan.
Yet muslims can block traffic and pray in the streets with impunity...
“When council officers asked, “What is the nature of your prayer?”
“I’m praying that you become infected with anal herpes.”
L
How did they know ,are they mind readers ,she could have had a headache
The UK seems to be beyond help. I doubt that even Nigel Farage can fix it.
So they are putting the faithful in a position where they have to be immoral to protect their morality.
“Were you praying silently?”
Yes = Criminality
No = lie.
Damned by man if you are moral, damned by God if you are immoral.
guilty of thought crime in the 1st degree
Seems like an easy choice.
100% Travel and Trade ban for their fascist policies.
Sent this article to a pastor along with a question...
Question? Can churches be active, but lose their savor by not shining the light on evil in the public arena and actively electing righteous politicians to office?
“in an abortion censorship zone” That must be something like a free-fire zone or a dematerialized-zone.
Bookmark
England has been taken over by godless pederasts and globalist technocrats.
Dematerialized zone?
Is that a space that Scotty beamed up?
😄
The ruling class of the UK as an "avatar" of Satan. It fits.
Coming to a neighbothood near you?
On October 4, a Scottish pro-life activist got a letter from the government. Addressed “Dear Resident,” its purpose was to alert her that her home, due to its proximity to the abortion hospital, is now in an .....wait for it......”abortion censorship zone.”
UK’s brand-new “Safe Access” law, came into effect September 24 and made it a “criminal offense” to do anything within 200 meters of an abortion facility that could “influence” someone’s decision to access, provide, or facilitate an abortion.
In the Scottish government’s letter, even “activities in a private place (such as a house) within the censorship area could be an offence if they can be seen or heard within the Zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.”
“You can “report a group or an individual” that you think is breaking the law,” the letter added, then provided instructions on how to do so.
This is what happens when you don’t have a First Amendment or the equivalent in your country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.