Andy Drozdziak
A leading pro-life activist has criticised MPs who are pushing to remove silent prayer and free thought from buffer zone legislation.
The Home Office drafted ‘Non Statutory Guidance on Abortion Clinic Safe Access Zones’ in December 2023 which will allow for silent prayer outside abortion clinics.
The guidance defined silent prayer as ‘the engagement of the mind and thought in prayer towards God’ which ‘is protected as an absolute right under the Human Rights Act 1998 and should not, on its own, be considered to be an offence under any circumstances. However, where an individual is praying, but their conduct is also intrusive, this is likely to be an offence under section 9. ’ (2.7)
Sky News reported that Labour MP Rupa Huq and Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin have today visited Home Secretary James Cleverly to urge him to remove this. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested on several occasions in 2023 outside an abortion clinic in Birmingham for praying silently, questioned the motives of the MPs.
“I think the Home Secretary has been under tremendous pressure from pro-abortion MPs to amend the draft guidance on buffer zones. These MPs are the same MPs currently calling for the decriminalisation of abortion,” Isabel told the Universe.
“Their ambition is not to prevent harassment and intimidation but to stamp out pro-life beliefs, thoughts, and expressions from the public square entirely.”
In October 2022, the House of Commons voted 297 to 110 in favour of an amendment to the Public Order Bill which would prevent people handing out leaflets, praying or standing within 150 metres of an abortion facility, known as “Safe Access Zones”. However, it soon became apparent that the legislation was not fit for purpose, with arrests being made for people simply standing outside the clinics, so the Home Office introduced a six-week consultation on the issue, which closed last week.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce pointed out that the protesting MPs are seeking to promote their own views on abortion rather than protecting women.
“Thought, prayer and personal autonomy (including that exercised in favour of life) are basic rights which the guidance rightly aimed to reflect,” she said.
“The fact that there is a push to remove even these basic rights from the guidance is the clearest example yet that those advocating for buffer zones are doing so to advance their own ideological positions on abortion rather than to genuinely protect women.”
According to Sky News, Rupa Huq and Sir Bernard Jenkin believe the exceptions in the non-statutory guidance would still amount to harassment of women seeking abortions.
The Home Office said it is ‘completely unacceptable’ for women accessing abortions to ‘feel harassed or intimidated.’ Isabel called the Public Order amendment ‘unnecessary and disproportionate’ and criticised those who are clamouring for the removal of the silent prayer feature.
“They not only managed to introduce legislation that was unnecessary and disproportionate – painting peaceful behaviour as harassing and intimidating – they are now seeking to ensure that the Government’s mainly sensible guidance makes no mention of basic human rights such as freedom of thought and consensual conversations,” she said.