Posted on 07/30/2022 5:54:20 PM PDT by marshmallow
Liverpool, England, Jul 20, 2022 / 01:11 am A 76-year-old English grandmother who was fined for praying near to an abortion clinic has successfully overturned her financial penalty, but human rights campaigners still fear that the initial fine represents “a worrying trend in law enforcement” regarding certain beliefs.
Rosa Lalor, from Liverpool, England, was issued the fine during the country’s lockdown in February 2021 after a policeman questioned why she was outdoors. She replied that she was “walking and praying.”
The officer involved said that this was not “a reasonable excuse,” that she was in fact protesting, and so she was then arrested, detained, and fined.
As a result of a legal challenge, supported by the organization ADF International, Merseyside Police have now conceded that Lalor should not have been detained due to the fact she was firmly within her rights to silently pray while out walking and that her actions were reasonable and acceptable under COVID-19 regulations.
In a statement released July 18, Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK, which supported Lalor’s case, said that the controversial incident marked a worrying trend where individuals faced penalties for holding controversial beliefs.
He said: “We’re thrilled to celebrate a victory for Rosa today, but it is deeply regrettable that this law-abiding woman was subjected to distressing, drawn-out criminal proceedings in the first place, no doubt due to her pro-life stance. This follows a worrying trend in law enforcement where individuals are routinely arrested simply because their views are considered to be controversial or offensive.”
Igunnubole went on to call for “the upskilling of police officers across the country to ensure that they have a proper grasp of the right to freedom of expression and religion as it relates to public order.”
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
Go Granny, Go Granny, Go Granny, Go!
The problem is that there is no downside to the police when they act like KGB. Even though she was found not guilty she had to prove her innocence- in a free society the police would have to prove she committed an offense and not some made up crap by a cop on a power trip.
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