British army veteran and family man Adam Smith-Connor has been convicted of silently praying to God outside an abortion clinic.
The authorities’ actions have caused widespread anger and frustration, and are seen by many as evidence that the police and judiciary are persecuting “thought criminals” and other dissenters in a totally unacceptable way.
Adam has a strong belief in God and is not afraid to stand up for his views, even on controversial issues. Before converting to Christianity, Adam and his former girlfriend decided to abort a child – a decision he now deeply regrets.
Because he “knows firsthand the trauma of abortion and the loss of life it causes”, he also prays silently in public places – for his own son who was aborted and for other unborn children and their parents.
He often prays silently outside abortion clinics, as he did last year in the town of Bournemouth – something that would lead to major and unexpected consequences.
Although Adam was silent and had his back turned to the abortion clinic, he was still confronted, questioned and fined by the police – the area is classified as a “safe zone” where strict censorship is in place and all forms of protest – even silent ones – are strictly forbidden.
“Convicted for his thoughts”
“According to the rules of the censorship zone in which he was praying, if Adam were thinking about any other issue – the economy, immigration, or healthcare, for example – he wouldn’t have been fined. It was the nature of his thoughts, his silent prayer, that got him in legal trouble”, writes the Christian conservative advocacy organisation Alliance Defending Freedom, which is working to bring Adam to justice.
“In August 2023, Bournemouth authorities criminally prosecuted Adam for this and although his trial was originally scheduled for last November, it was delayed for almost a year. This prolonged process has caused Adam and his family unwarranted hardship and emotional strain. Over a year later in October 2024, The Court sentenced Smith-Connor to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £9,000”, it adds.
In its decision, the court said that the silent prayer with lowered head and clasped hands constituted a ‘disapproval of abortion’ – and that the behaviour was therefore criminal.
– All I did was pray to God, Adam himself states.
Today, a man was criminally convicted for standing still, silently praying, in England. I’ve now had chance to read the decision in full. A short thread below. And before you get to the end, you can support Adam here: https://t.co/q0JKxcCxoq pic.twitter.com/mNyQMgFOvJ
— Paul Coleman (@Paul_B_Coleman) October 16, 2024
Criminal under “certain circumstances”
The actions of the police and judiciary have enraged many Britons, accusing the authorities of persecuting “thought criminals” and dissenters in a way that makes no sense whatsoever.
In the UK, a mass media campaign has also been launched to counter the criticism, with a number of major media outlets claiming almost identically that Adam was not convicted of praying to God at all, but of “breaching the safe zone around an abortion centre”.
However, what difference this makes in practice is highly unclear, as The Independent, for example, admits that the order introduced in 2022 to “protect” the area around the abortion clinic is precisely to prevent all forms of protest – and “includes but is not limited to graphic, verbal or written means, prayer or counselling”.
“Prayer is not considered a crime under English law, with sittings in both Houses of Parliament beginning with Christian prayers. However there are certain circumstances, as outlined in this particular Public Space Protection Order, where it can be a punishable act”, it adds.
The special “safe zone” applies to 150 metres around the abortion clinic and is in force between 07:00 and 19:00 on weekdays.
