British Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old father, was found guilty in the UK for engaging in silent prayer for his late son close to an abortion clinic in Bournemouth. This act was deemed a violation of a public space protection order that bans any activities related to abortion in the area.
The incident occurred in November 2022, and he was fined nearly $12,000 and given a two-year conditional discharge.
“Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the United Kingdom,” Smith-Conner said. “That cannot be right.
“All I did was pray to God, in the privacy of my own mind – and yet I stand convicted as a criminal?”
Critics, including former MP Miriam Cates, have likened the ruling to a dystopian scenario, arguing that it criminalizes personal thoughts and infringes on basic human rights.
Smith-Connor expressed disbelief that silent prayer could be deemed illegal.
“This isn’t ‘1984,’ but 2024 — nobody should be on trial for the mere thoughts they hold in their mind,” Cates said.
“It’s outrageous that the local council are pouring taxpayer funding into prosecuting a thoughtcrime, at a time where resources are stretched thin.”
