Adam Smith-Connor is fighting for the freedom to pray within ‘buffer zones’ outside abortion facilities
Ex-soldier convicted for praying in a ‘buffer zone’ will appeal
Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor has decided to appeal against his conviction for silently praying outside an abortion centre in Bournemouth. He was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine plus £8,000 legal fees. A ‘Give, Send, Go’ fundraiser set up by Adam raised the sums in 20 hours. His decision comes after the Crown Prosecution Service stated that silent prayer is “not necessarily” a crime. Mr Smith-Connor, who now works as a physiotherapist, commented: “Surely a silent thought cannot be a crime… The Government simply cannot be allowed to determine the content of thoughts and prayers.”
Mr Smith-Connor was praying for his dead son, Jacob, who died by abortion. The ex-soldier’s case is being supported by ADF UK. A SPUC spokesperson added: “31 October will go down in history as a day of shame in England and Wales as buffer zones imposed thought crime on ordinary citizens, some of whom have already been convicted for praying in their heads.
“Far from protecting women, buffer zones deny them a true choice by preventing well-meaning citizens from offering help, advice and support to them in crisis pregnancies.”