This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A woman in the United Kingdom has been arrested a second time for her silent prayer inside a police-described “exclusion zone” near an abortion business – only days after she was acquitted of charges from her first so-called offense.
See police confronting Isabel Vaughan-Spruce.
She explains she is not protesting or doing anything that is prohibited, but the officer demands, “You said you’re engaging in the prayer which IS the offense.”
A commentary at The Right Scoop cited published media reports saying that Vaughan-Spruce, 45, the head of March for Life UK, was arrested outside the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
When Vaughan-Spruce explains her prayer was “silent,” the officer insists, “It is an offense.”
In a statement through her legal counsel, she said, “Only three weeks ago, it was made clear by the court that my silent prayers were not a crime. And yet, again, I have been arrested and treated as a criminal for having the exact same thoughts in my head, in the same location. The ambiguity of laws that limit free expression and thought – even in peaceful, consensual conversation or in silent, internal prayer.”
Her lawyers said she now has been banned from going near the abortion business.
The report said, “Vaughan-Spruce wrote a recent op-ed where she explains that she’s prayed in front of this abortion clinic for 20 years, 19 of which was never a problem. Only since the UK passed new amendments to the Public Order Bill last year creating these ‘exclusion zones’ has she been harassed and arrested for praying.”
And it added a warning for Americans:
“Does this sound familiar? Biden’s DOJ has been prosecuting people for something called the FACE Act, The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. They had prosecuted Catholic Mark Houk under this Act, but he was recently found not guilty. If the leftists continue to control our government, you can bet the FACE Act will make it illegal to silently pray, just like in the UK – all in the name of baby murder. Thankfully we have a Constitution to protect us – for now.”
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported last month that the Birmingham Magistrates’ Court ruled that Vaughan-Spruce was not guilty and acquitted her of all charges in the first case.
Actually, prosecutors had dropped all the charges against her, but her lawyers announced they would be pursuing an official verdict in court to prevent authorities from reopening that case in the future.
She said, at the time, “When it comes to censorship zones, peaceful prayer and attempts to offer help to women in crisis pregnancies are now being described as either ‘criminal” or “anti-social.’ But what is profoundly anti-social are the steps now being taken to censor freedom of speech, freedom to offer help, freedom to pray, and even freedom to think. We must stand firm against this and ensure that these most fundamental freedoms are protected and that all our laws reflect this.”
