Prayer and prosecutions: the US ‘hate group’ waging war over Britain’s abortion clinic buffer zones | Abortion | The Guardian

In all the cases, at the centre of the ADF's publicity is the idea that silent prayer is being criminalised – and people's right to freedom of religion is being eroded. But Clarke says this is a distraction. "The thing they try to push is that it's just 'silently praying': you might be walking down the road minding your business and a police officer leaps out. 

But that's not how it works. These campaigners seek out abortion clinics and they stand directly outside," she says… 

She said the attempt to focus on "silent prayer" and freedom of speech and religion appeared to be a "deliberate strategy by the anti-abortion movement". "They are still free to pray and say what they want about abortion. They are just asking them to move 100m down the street."…

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/16/prayer-and-prosecutions-the-us-hate-group-waging-war-over-britains-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones