https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-8M4_1y8L0
UNITED KINGDOM: DIRECTOR ISABEL VAUGHAN-SPRUCE - WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR PRAYING OUTSIDE AN ABORTION BUSINESS - HAS BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY; ALLEGED NEWS. [1] Director Vaughan-Spruce is Director of the UK March for Life, and has volunteered for many years in support of women in crisis pregnancies.
Arrested for praying silently
British police arrested Director Vaughan-Spruce late last year for praying silently outside an abortion facility in Birmingham after a censorship zone had been approved prohibiting pro-life people from protesting, counselling, praying or even being located in the zone; Alleged News. [1] Director Vaughan-Spruce was carrying no sign and remained completely silent until approached by officers and said she “might” have been praying at the time of her arrest; Alleged News. [1]
Charged with four counts
She was eventually charged with with four counts of failing to comply with a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) by breaching an exclusion zone outside a Birmingham abortion clinic; Alleged News. [1]
Charges dropped
The Crown Prosecution Service eventually dropped the charges due to “insufficient evidence”, while informing her that they may be reinstated again; Alleged News. [1]
Charges permanently dismissed
But on February 16, 2023, a court evaluated the case again and found Director Vaughan-Spruce not guilty and permanently dismissed her charges; Alleged News. [1]
Father Sean Gough
Fr Sean Gough said that "silent prayer" is being criminalised, after charges claiming he intimidated service users near an abortion center were dropped; Alleged News. [2] Fr Gough and Director Vaughan-Spruce were facing four charges at Birmingham Magistrates' Court ; Alleged News. [2] Speaking outside court after the hearing, Fr Gough said he was pleased he had been cleared and he stood by his conviction that unborn lives do matter; Alleged News. [2]
ADF UK legal counsel
ADF UK legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole also responded to the court's decision; Alleged News. [1] The legal group had been representing Director Vaughan-Spruce; Alleged News. [1] "Isabel and Father Sean's cases show that the current plans to introduce censorship zones across England and Wales constitute a dangerous step towards an illiberal society. We ask parliamentarians to think long and hard about whether we are still a free and democratic society and a free and democratic country and if so national censorship zones must be rejected," he said; Alleged News. [1]
Legislation to introduce censorship zones
In Westminster, parliamentarians are considering legislation to introduce censorship zones in England and Wales; Alleged News. [1] Clause 9 of the Public Order Bill, currently under parliamentary debate, would prohibit pro-life volunteers from “influencing”, “advising”, “persuading”, “informing”, “occupying space” or even “expressing opinion” within the vicinity of an abortion facility; Alleged News. [1]
Those who breach the rules could face up to two years in prison; Alleged News.
A 2018 government review into the work of pro-life volunteers outside of abortion facilities found that instances of harassment are rare, and police already have powers to prosecute individuals engaging in such activities. The most common activities of pro-life groups were found to be quiet or silent prayer, or offering leaflets about charitable support available to women who would like to consider alternative options to abortion.
At 150m, the national censorship zones would be larger than a football pitch (115m). In the equivalent space, if one goalkeeper were to pray for the other goalkeeper – regardless of impact or noticeability – that would be an offence.
The censorial provisions of the parliamentary bill drew substantive criticism from members of the House of Lords, including Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Beith, who deemed the clause “the most profound restriction on free speech I have ever seen in any UK legislation,” Alleged News. [1]
Lord Farmer called the clause “fundamentally flawed”, and asked, “When one walks past, one sees that vigils are often small groups of harmless, mainly female, pensioners. Why should they be banned and silenced?” Alleged News. [1]
The Clause has caused great controversy following a statement released from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State shortly after MPs voted to include it, admitting that the clause “could not be said to be compliant” with Convention rights as protected in the European Court of Human Rights; Alleged News. [1]
[1] Court dismisses charges against pro-life woman arrested for praying outside abortion center; Alleged News
[2] Abortion clinic charges dropped against Wolverhampton priest; alleged News
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-64668114
With thanks to youtube, lifenews.com, parliament.uk and bbc.com
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