A delegation from the Trump-era U.S. State Department recently visited the UK on a fact-finding mission to investigate arrests of pro-life activists who were detained for silently praying near abortion clinics. Led by Samuel Samson from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the five-member team met with British officials and individuals charged under the UK’s increasingly strict buffer zone laws.
Among those arrested:
- Margaret Docherty, a 74-year-old grandmother, was the first charged under Scotland’s law after standing peacefully near a Glasgow hospital.
- Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested in Birmingham in 2023 for praying silently without signage. Though not charged, her case drew U.S. government attention.
- Adam Smith-Connor, an Army veteran, was convicted for praying near a Bournemouth clinic and received a two-year conditional discharge.
- Tossici-Bolt, another protester, received a discharge and was fined over £20,000. Her case reportedly influenced U.S.-UK trade talks.
All were legally represented by Alliance Defending Freedom International.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance highlighted these incidents at the Munich Security Conference, warning that free speech and religious expression are under threat across Europe. He also criticized the EU’s Digital Services Act for potentially stifling conservative voices online.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his country’s commitment to free speech but faced pressure from U.S. officials, who warned they were “monitoring” the situation.
Controversy deepened when a Scottish lawmaker admitted that even private prayer inside one’s home near a clinic could be considered a legal breach, after initially denying the claim.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson emphasized that while the UK and U.S. share democratic values, freedom of expression must be protected including the right to silent prayer.
