A Christian woman has pleaded not guilty to allegedly breaching a “buffer zone” law after silently praying outside an abortion clinic in the U.K.
A Christian woman has pleaded not guilty to allegedly breaching a “buffer zone” law after silently praying outside an abortion clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, 48, from Malvern in Worcestershire, was charged in December 2025 under the Public Order Act 2023 by West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for silently praying within an abortion clinic “buffer zone.”
The government has said the legislation is designed to protect women accessing abortion services from harassment and intimidation.
Speaking at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, she said: “I’ve simply stood inside an abortion ‘buffer zone,’ on a public street, and silently prayed — meaning my thoughts were turned towards God.”
“I’ve not held any posters, offered any leaflets, spoken with anyone, or spoken out loud at all. I’ve not interacted with anyone in any way. Yet I’m being treated like a criminal. This is viewpoint discrimination. Standing is not a crime, silence is not a crime, thinking is not a crime.”
The Public Order Act 2023 introduced national buffer zone provisions intended to prevent harassment, intimidation, or interference with a person’s decision to access, provide, or facilitate the provision of abortion services near abortion clinics.
The law also prevents anyone from causing distress or alarm within 150 meters (492 feet) of abortion facilities.
The defense argued that the charges brought against her fall outside the scope of the “buffer zone” law and are contrary to Vaughan-Spruce’s right to freedom of thought and religion under Article 9 of the European Court for Human Rights.
Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF International — a group backing her case — said: “The fact that someone can be criminally prosecuted merely for their thoughts and beliefs should serve as a wake-up call to all those concerned with the state of freedom of expression and thought in Great Britain.”
“Parliament’s express intention in passing the Public Order Act 2023 was to prevent harassment and intimidation, not peaceful conduct. Parliament certainly did not intend to introduce thought crime,” he added.
Vaughan-Spruce is set to face trial between Oct. 6 and 9.
She previously appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court in February 2023 for a separate offense after being arrested for praying in a local “buffer zone,” but the Crown Prosecution Service dropped four charges of failing to comply with a public spaces protection order.
She was arrested again at the same location in March 2023, an incident that led to a police investigation lasting several months.
In August 2024, Vaughan-Spruce challenged her two arrests and received a settlement from West Midlands Police of 13,000 pounds (over $15,500)
Her first two arrests were for alleged breaches of locally imposed public spaces protection orders. Her latest criminal charge is for an alleged breach of the new national legislation that came into force in October 2024.
Vaughan-Spruce is the first person to be criminally charged under this new legislation.
The hearing follows recent comments from U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticizing buffer zone laws as a form of censorship.
If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.