Fantastic news! 

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce who was arrested because she admitted that she may have been praying silently in public, was found NOT GUILTY of all charges when she appeared before Birmingham magistrates on Thursday 16th February.

In the dock with Isabel and also found not guilty, was Father Sean Gough, the Catholic priest who was charged with both praying in public and displaying a pro-life bumper sticker on his car.

This is obviously wonderful news but neither Isabel nor Father Gough, ought to have been put through such a gruelling ordeal in the first place.

I attended Isabel’s court hearing with a number of supporters (as you may have seen from some of the media coverage) where I was able to record this message of thanks for you from Isabel.

This victory makes it much more difficult for Birmingham police to be able to press charges against anyone thought to be praying in public, however, it should never have come to this. Nobody ought to be interrogated by the police over their thoughts. 

Isabel and Fr Sean were prosecuted under by-laws implemented by a local council, but Parliament is still considering whether or not to introduce blanket censorship zones outside every single abortion facility in England. 

This victory makes it much more difficult for Birmingham police to be able to press charges against anyone thought to be praying in public, however, it should never have come to this. Nobody ought to be interrogated by the police over their thoughts. 

Isabel and Fr Sean were prosecuted under by-laws implemented by a local council, but Parliament is still considering whether or not to introduce blanket censorship zones outside every single abortion facility in England. 

An amendment to the Public Order Bill which is currently progressing through Parliament would prevent anyone from attempting to ‘influence’ a decision within 150m of an abortion centre. Anyone found guilty of this offence would be subject to unlimited fines.

Many seasoned supporters of abortion disagree with this measure, recognising that it is an assault on civil liberties. One abortion advocate, Baroness Fox even said that ‘influencing is the basis of democracy. Women must be free to change their mind at any time and in any direction, up until either termination or what have you. It is not coercive if you think again.’

We can all agree that harassment is wrong, however it is not harassment to offer a woman a leaflet outlining offers of support that she may not have previously been aware of. Many hundreds of women who have been offered a lifeline outside the abortion centre have chosen life for their unborn child.

A government review in 2018 concluded that there was no evidence of harassment occuring outside abortion facilities and that the police already possessed sufficient powers to deal with any threats to public order.

It is frightening that the police are now able to question people as to their thoughts, that priests can be arrested for praying in public, or that you are required to remove any pro-life stickers from your cars or personal property, when travelling through certain areas in the UK.

CitizenGO are still campaigning on behalf of Adam Smith-Connor who was fined because he was silently praying near a place where his son lost his life. We also have an ongoing campaign against buffer zones.

We are delighted that both Isabel and Fr Sean were vindicated, but this is unlikely to be the end of the story. We will continue to support in every way possible, anyone who is persecuted for exercising their religious freedoms and praying in public.

In the meantime, a big thank you for all of your support for Isabel.