UK Parliament Makes Silent Prayer a Crime

The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed a Public Order Bill on March 7 that established censorship zones outside of abortion facilities across England and Wales. The law makes it illegal to try to have any sort of “influence” over people going in to have an abortion. This includes having a consensual conversation with the person having an abortion or even making a silent prayer.

A 2022 bbc study found that 1 in 5 women have an abortion against their will. These are the sort of women that would be dissuaded through calm conversation. But Parliament has made it illegal to do so—or even to pray about doing so.

Thought police: Many anti-abortion groups commonly hold prayer vigils outside abortion facilities, which this law specifically targets. One member of Parliament proposed an amendment to the law to allow silent prayer, but 62 percent of Parliament voted against it.

Parliament had an opportunity to reject the criminalization of free thought, which is an absolute right, and embrace individual liberty for all. Instead, Parliament chose to endorse censorship and criminalize peaceful activities such as silent prayer and consensual conversation. Today it’s abortion. Tomorrow it could be another contested matter of political debate.
—Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel

Priorities: It is unclear how lawmakers plan to identify who is praying and who isn’t. Earlier this week, a woman was arrested for praying silently outside an abortion facility in Birmingham. When the prosecution failed to present any evidence of the thought crime, she was acquitted.

However, the law sets a dangerous precedent, not only because of the nature of the crime but also what it protects.

UK lawmakers have made it clear that they value the right to murder children over freedom of religion and free speech. It is a definitive declaration that abortion is right, not wrong. In doing so, they are suppressing the all-important truth about the value of human life while endorsing a great evil.

Learn more: Read our article “Inspiring Truth Abortionists Should Know.”