UK: It Is Forbidden to Silently Pray in Certain Places

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is the director of March for Life in the UK and a volunteer supporting women in difficult pregnancy situations. She was arrested by police at an abortion clinic in Birmingham.

She was later charged with four counts after telling police she was “maybe” praying silently when asked why she was standing on a public road near an abortion center.

Exclusion Zones

A law passed by Birmingham authorities criminalizes those deemed to “engage in any act of approval or disapproval or attempt to approve or disapprove” of abortion, including by “verbal means or writings, prayers or advice.”

The law also establishes exclusion zones – public space protection order (PSPO) – within a radius of 150m around the abortion clinics. Mrs. Vaughan-Spruce was notably accused of having violated this order. The police only became interested in her after a person complained that she was praying silently.

It should be noted that Mrs. Vaughan-Spruce was not carrying a sign and remained totally silent until officers approached and showed her photos of her outside the abortion clinic, asking her if she was praying . She happened to be near the abortion clinic when it was closed, three times, and she says she “maybe” prayed.

While at the police station, she was shown pictures of herself outside the abortion facility. She said she couldn't remember if she was praying at those specific times or if they were taken at times when she was distracted. She maintains that all of her thoughts were equally peaceful and imperceptible and that none should be penalized.

As part of her bail conditions, Vaughan-Spruce was asked not to contact a local Catholic priest involved in pro-life work, a condition later removed. Police also imposed restrictions, as part of her bail, preventing her from praying in public outside the PSPO area, saying this was necessary to prevent further offences. It is mind boggling.

A Healthy Reaction

Mrs. Vaughan-Spruce reacted with strength and dignity: “It is abhorrently unfair that I have been searched, detained, interrogated, and charged simply for praying in the privacy of my heart. … What I did was far from harmful: I was exercising my freedom of religion. No one should be criminalized for thinking and praying in a public space in the UK.”

She added a nice highlight: “My faith is a fundamental part of my identity, so sometimes I stand or walk near an abortion clinic and pray. It's something I've done almost every week for the past 20 years of my life. I pray for my friends who have had abortions and for the women who are considering doing it themselves.”