36 articles
A Christian woman criminally charged because she “stood outside” an abortion facility in Birmingham and silently prayed appeared in court for a first hearing today and plead ‘not guilty’. The post Christian woman criminally charged for silent prayer pleads ‘not guilty’ in first hearing appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Charitable volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was previously cleared in court and received a payout from police for being unjustly arrested twice for her silent prayers, has been criminally charged again Vaughan-Spruce will appear in court 29th January, supported by ADF International BIRMINGHAM (17 December 2025) – West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have criminally charged Isabel Vaughan-Spruce because she “stood outside” an abortion facility, where “influence” is prohibited. The charitable volunteer has been under investigation since […] The post UK: Christian woman crim
Read →International momentum against surrogacy grows, as European Parliament and UN condemn practice Experts today in European Parliament, including UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem and ADF International’s Carmen Correas, highlighted harms of surrogacy for women and children Brussels (19 November 2025) – Today, experts convened at the European Parliament to […] The post Experts convene at European Parliament to address harms of surrogacy, following EU resolution condemning practice appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against Poland following a challenge brought by a woman who had travelled abroad for an abortion after the country’s Constitutional Tribunal struck down eugenic abortion in 2020. The post European Court of Human Rights Undermines Right to Life for the Disabled Unborn in Polish Case appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Scottish Green Party’s Patrick Harvie proposes a censored “buffer zone” around facilities where assisted suicides might take place, preventing family members or concerned individuals from changing a person’s mind Move echoes abortion “buffer zones” law enacted in Scotland last year, under which a grandmother was arrested for offering a conversation EDINBURGH (29 October 2025) – A Scottish parliamentarian and member of the Health Committee, Patrick […] The post Scottish politician seeks to criminalise “influencing” a person’s decision about assisted suicide appeared first on Alliance Defending
Read →Ahead of her report presentation to the UN General Assembly, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem, condemns surrogacy at high-level UN event, stating the practice commodifies women and children. ADF International co-presents at event hosted by Italian government; applauds the call to prohibit the practice globally. NEW YORK CITY (8 October 2025) – Today, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem, formally spoke out against […] The post UN Expert Calls to Globally Prohibit Surrogacy in Landmark Report appeared firs
Read →Christian grandmother arrested a second time; criminally charged for holding a sign reading “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” within 200m of a hospital Rose Docherty, aged 75, left without chair for two hours in a police cell – despite having two hip replacements https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Glasgow-3.mov GLASGOW (27 September 2025) – 75-year-old grandmother Rose Docherty has been arrested a second time and criminally […] The post Glasgow Grandmother arrested AGAIN for offering conversations in abortion “buffer zone” appeared first on Alliance Def
Read →State Department issues a further condemnation of Britain’s “egregious” buffer zones, warning of a “concerning departure” from shared UK-US values Birmingham Christian Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is back under investigation for silently praying near an abortion facility WASHINGTON, D.C. / LONDON (19 August 2025) – The United States has issued its strongest warning yet to the UK over so-called “buffer zones”, which have […] The post U.S. State Department Doubles Down on Warning to UK: “Buffer Zones” are an “Egregious Violation” of Free Speech appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Washington voices support after authorities back down from prosecuting grandmother arrested under Scotland’s “buffer zone” law Rose Docherty, 75, held a sign reading “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/x-downloader.com_nDtvSF.mp4 GLASGOW (18 August 2025) – The United States Department of State has welcomed Scotland’s decision to drop legal action against 75-year-old grandmother […] The post U.S. State Department Applauds Scotland’s Decision to Drop Case Against Pro-Life Grandmother Rose Dov appeared first on Alliance Def
Read →Procurator Fiscal withdraws warning, confirms Rose Docherty will not be charged for offering consensual, peaceful conversation inside abortion “buffer zone” in Glasgow Docherty held a sign reading “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, if you want” – ADF International co-ordinated her legal defence https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/x-downloader.com_nDtvSF.mp4 GLASGOW (14 August 2025) – In a win for freedom […] The post Prosecutor Backs Down in Case Against Scottish Grandmother in Major Free Speech Victory appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Crown Prosecution Service to advise on charging Isabel Vaughan-Spruce again for praying silently near abortion facility in Birmingham Charitable volunteer, who was cleared in court and received a payout from police for being unjustly arrested twice for her silent prayers, has been consistently praying in same location for twenty years Birmingham (10th August 2025) – […] The post Christian Arrested for Silent Prayer Back Under Investigation appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Feature premiere of timely documentary highlights erosion of freedom of expression in Britain, including through recent prosecutions of citizens who have silently prayed near abortion facilities NYT Bestselling author Rod Dreher, film writer/director Isaiah Smallman, and victims of state censorship including Adam Smith-Connor (convicted for silent prayer) to attend black tie evening on Monday 30th […] The post U.K. Premiere of “Live Not By Lies” Shines Spotlight on Erosion of Freedom in the West appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →LONDON – (20 June 2025) UK MPs today voted by a majority of 23 to legalise assisted suicide. Reacting to this news, Robert Clarke, Director of Advocacy for ADF International, said: “Today’s vote to approve the Leadbeater Bill on assisted suicide—314 to 291—is a grave and chilling development for the United Kingdom. Parliament has signaled […] The post STATEMENT: UK MPs vote to legalise assisted suicide appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Parliamentarian Gillian Mackay tells BBC she wants the government to consider extending Scottish “buffer zones”, despite already being the largest in the world Glasgow grandmother became first to be arrested under the new laws after holding a sign reading “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” – says she is “prepared […] The post Grandmother arrested in Scottish abortion “buffer zone” reacts as parliamentarians push for extension of censored public space appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Gillian Mackay MSP claims visible prayer by a window at home could be a crime if within 200m from an abortion facility, depending on who is “passing the window” Comments come weeks after Vance called out Scotland’s censored “buffer zones” – Mackay previously described his concerns about prayer at home as “misinformation” https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Gillian-window.mp4 Gillian Mackay, […] The post Criminality of prayer within a home “depends on who’s passing the window” claims author of the Scottish “buffer zones” law called out by JD Vance appeared first on Alliance
Read →Retired clinical scientist and Christian Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt, 64, found guilty this morning at Poole Magistrates’ Court Dr Tossici-Bolt held a sign reading ‘here to talk, if you want’ and did not engage in harassment, intimidation, or obstruction. Her legal defence is supported by ADF International The US State Department this week expressed concern about […] The post Christian woman convicted for offering consensual conversation in abortion facility ‘buffer zone’, ordered to pay £20,000 in prosecution costs appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Verdict for Livia Tossici-Bolt, Christian woman who faced criminal trial for holding a sign offering consensual conversation in censorial abortion facility ‘buffer zone’ in Bournemouth, will be released on Friday ADF International is supporting her legal defence US State Department: ‘We are concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom… We are monitoring [Dr […] The post US State Department: ‘We are monitoring’ prosecution of UK woman in abortion facility ‘buffer zone’ case and ‘are concerned about freedom of expression’ in Britain appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →BOURNEMOUTH (6th March 2025) – The criminal trial of Livia Tossici-Bolt, the retired medical scientist who held a “here to talk, if you want” sign in an abortion “buffer zone”, began yesterday and will continue today. Tossici-Bolt, 63, is accused of breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which installs a “buffer zone” around a […] The post Buffer zone trial: Officers admit they did not “personally witness” any “harassment” before Christian woman fined for holding “here to talk” sign appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Livia Tossici-Bolt held a sign reading “Here to talk, if you want” near an abortion facility in Bournemouth Retired medical scientist to face trial 5th -6th MARCH; ADF UK supports legal defence U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance raises repeated concerns about the UK’s “buffer zone” laws – “these ideas are going to destroy Western civilisation” BOURNEMOUTH […] The post TODAY: Dorset retiree to face trial for offering a conversation in abortion “buffer zone” appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →DUNDEE (28 February 2025) - A midwifery student and mother of three resident in Scotland but from the USA was suspended from her training placement with NHS Fife over comments on a private Facebook forum explaining her conscientious objection to performing abortions. “It is concerning that an NHS health board would be reluctant to welcome a […] The post Scottish health authority suspend American midwifery student over pro-life Facebook posts appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →UK faces mounting backlash against silent prayer prosecutions as a result of abortion “buffer zones” J.D. Vance highlights “infringements on free speech” during Starmer’s trip to Washington https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GOVE.mp4 Rt. Hon. Michael Gove speaking to Chopper’s Political Podcast on GB News. Clip begins 29:52, full episode available here. LONDON (28th February 2025) – Speaking to Christopher […] The post GOVE: “It is wrong to say that someone cannot pray silently” appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Gillian Mackay MSP claims visible prayer by a window at home could be a crime if within 200m from an abortion facility, depending on who is “passing the window” Comments come weeks after Vance called out Scotland’s censored “buffer zones” – Mackay previously described his concerns about prayer at home as “misinformation” https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Gillian-window.mp4 Gillian Mackay, […] The post Criminality of prayer within a home “depends on who’s passing the window” claims author of the Scottish “buffer zones” law called out by JD Vance appeared first on Alliance
Read →U.S. President J.D. Vance has called out UK authorities for prosecuting an army veteran for his silent prayers near an abortion facility Smith-Connor “overwhelmingly thankful” for support from the Vice President as he prepares to appeal his conviction in July, with support from ADF International MUNICH (14 February 2025) – “Free speech, I fear, is in […] The post U.S. Vice President Vance: “Concerning” British silent prayer conviction shows free speech is “in retreat” appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Livia Tossici-Bolt held a sign reading “Here to talk, if you want to” near an abortion facility in Bournemouth Retired medical scientist to face trial 5th -6th MARCH; ADF UK supports legal defence Christians raise concerns about “two-tier policing” BOURNEMOUTH (6 February 2025) – A retired medical scientist from Bournemouth will face trial on 6th […] The post Dorset retiree faces trial for offering a conversation, amidst fears over “two-tier policing” appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Bournemouth Crown Court to hear silent prayer appeal, July 28th 2025 Recent CPS guidance clarifies that silent prayer is “not necessarily” a crime in national abortion “buffer zones” Bournemouth (29 January 2025) – The appeal date for the army veteran and father of two found “guilty” for praying silently near an abortion facility has been […] The post Appeal date set for Army Veteran convicted for silent prayer in “buffer zone” appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Home Office’s comments “run contrary to the lived experience of countless everyday British people”, says Isabel Vaughan-Spruce A Dorset retiree will similarly face trial in March for holding a sign reading “here to talk, if you want” in abortion “buffer zone” LONDON (28th January 2025) – A leaked Home Office counter-extremism dossier says that “claims of ‘two-tier’ […] The post Woman arrested for silent prayer responds to Home Office dismissal of “two-tier policing” appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →US rejoins coalition of 40 countries standing against the creation of a “faux” international human right to abortion Declaration affirms that “every human being has the inherent right to life” New York (27 January 2025) – A communication from the United States Mission to the United Nations has announced that the U.S. will rejoin the […] The post U.S. Reaffirms There Is No ‘Human Right’ to Abortion; Rejoins the Geneva Consensus Declaration appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Influential committee makes intervention on alarming state of free speech in UK and Europe Abortion centre ‘buffer zones’ and Online Safety Act in UK criticised LONDON (22 November 2024) – An influential US congressional committee has criticised abortion centre “buffer zones” and the Online Safety Act in the UK as part of a “tsunami of […] The post ‘Tsunami of censorship’: US congressional committee criticises UK’s abortion centre ‘buffer zones’ and online censorship appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →Jim Demers was criminally convicted and spent almost two months in prison in 1996-97 for holding a sign quoting the American Convention on Human Rights: “Every person has the right to have his life respected” With no recourse left in Canada, Demers filed for redress with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2004 and […] The post International body to rule on case of Canadian man who spent time in prison for holding sign outside abortion facility almost 30 years ago appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
Read →With legal support from ADF UK, Adam Smith-Connor will pursue an appeal against his conviction for praying silently in a “buffer zone” CPS guidance on prosecuting “buffer zone” breaches requires evidence of “overt” activity “Buffer zones” enacted TODAY around every abortion facility in England & Wales LONDON (31 October 2024) – As the Crown Prosecution […] The post Army veteran confirms APPEAL as Crown Prosecution Service concede silent prayer “not necessarily” an offence appeared first on Alliance Defending Freedom .
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