Free Speech at University: Should students be allowed to debate sensitive issues?

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Support Isabel, who is being criminalised for silent prayer

Meet the charity volunteer arrested and charged for a silent prayer “thought crime” near an abortion facility.

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Meet the charity worker arrested and charged on four counts for silent prayer “thought crime” near an abortion facility.

In November 2022, Police approached Isabel Vaughan-Spruce standing near the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

Vaughan-Spruce was not protesting. She wasn’t carrying a sign or engaging with anyone. She was completely silent, until approached by officers who had received complaints that she may be praying silently in her mind. 

While harassment is already illegal, the censorship zone measure introduced by Birmingham authorities criminalises individuals perceived to be “engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval” in relation to abortion, including through “verbal or written means, prayer or counselling…”

Isabel’s physical presence in the public space protection order (PSPO) area wasn’t a crime in itself; it was the contents of her private thoughts that were prohibited. If Isabel had stood in the same place thinking about another topic, she would not have been arrested.

Isabel is currently out on bail, with police-imposed restrictions including engaging in public prayer, even beyond the PSPO area, stating that this is necessary to prevent further offences.

Isabel is the Director of the UK March for Life and has volunteered for many years in support of women in crisis pregnancies. She has tirelessly served her community by providing charitable assistance to vulnerable women and children, and yet, she is being treated no better than a violent criminal because of her private thoughts.

#Censored

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What might the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill mean for free speech?

The PCSC Bill seeks to strengthen police powers to respond to public order incidents and protests.

We are concerned that the Bill could make things worse for those expressing deeply held views which includes Christians wanting to share about their faith publicly.

The Bill, if passed today, would give police broad powers to impose conditions or arrest people if their public expression causes “serious unease, alarm or distress”, or even “inconvenience” to bystanders; concepts that are highly ambiguous and incredibly subjective. In light of the risks, we are campaigning for the inclusion of clear, unambiguous, and robust protections for freedom of speech – applying both to the PCSC Bill and to wider public order legislation.

What can I do?

Will you stand with us for free speech? Write to your MP to ask them to support this in parliament today!

Why isn’t the current law protecting free speech in the public square?

71-year-old John Sherwood has been a Pastor in North London for 35 years. As part of his Christian calling, he preaches in the open air. But in May 2020, local authorities censored him for the apparent use of “abusive words” likely to cause “harassment, alarm or distress”. “I was only saying what the Bible says – I wasn’t wanting to hurt anyone or cause offence,” refuted Sherwood. He had preached from Genesis 1:26. Male and female they created them. It’s his basis for the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman – a view held by about 1 in 5 Brits.

How have we got here?

The part of the Act (section 5) relating to the criminalization of abuse likely to cause harassment alarm and distress were largely introduced to give police powers to tackle violent football hooliganism and riots. However, the Act is now more often used to arrest people for legitimate speech. The ban on “insulting” speech, which allowed for subjective interpretations, was removed from the law 8 years ago, but a person is still guilty of an offence if he or she “uses threatening or abusive words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour”.

Yet, despite Parliament’s clear intention against the criminalization of insulting speech, arrests on these grounds have continued. Police officers have simply opted to arrest individuals previously considered insulting as ‘abusive’, which remains a criminal offence.

WHY IS YOUR SUPPORT IMPORTANT?

Whether it be for sharing deeply held beliefs relating to matters of ethical, political or religious debate, our public order laws have been too often used to falsely arrest or threaten arrest people for their expression in the streets. We believe that the law needs reform so that a reasonable balance is struck between upholding the right to freedom of expression and maintining public order.

By writing to your Member of Parliament, you ask him to sign a Freedom of Speech motion in Parliament. The more signatures the motion obtains, the stronger the message for Government.

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Case Summary

Police investigations against Räsänen started in June 2019. As an active member of the Finnish Lutheran church, she addressed the leadership of her church and questioned its official sponsorship of the LGBT event ‘Pride 2019’, accompanied by an image of a Bible text. Räsänen has already attended several lengthy police interviews about her views and had to wait over a year for the General Prosecutor to decide whether to continue with the prosecution. That decision was made in April 2021 and ADF International will continue supporting Räsänen’s defense and the right for everyone to freely share their beliefs.

Päivi Räsänen has served as a member of the Finnish Parliament since 1995, and was Minister of the Interior from 2011-2015. She is a medical doctor, mother of five children, and has seven grandchildren.

“Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of democracy. The Finnish Prosecutor General’s decision to bring these charges against Dr. Räsänen creates a culture of fear and censorship. If committed civil servants like Päivi Räsänen are criminally charged for voicing their deeply held beliefs, it creates a chilling effect for everyone’s right to speak freely, ”said Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International and author of “Censored“.

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Free Speech at University: Should students be allowed to debate sensitive issues?

Jeremiah Igunnubole, ADF UK's Legal Counsel, spoke to GB News about the “culture of fear” around freedom of speech on university campuses.

Your donation helps…

Cover the legal fees & expenses associated with court proceedings

Our work alongside hundreds of individuals like Isabel who come to us for help

Our work in the UK to ensure that laws, policies and guidance are balanced to protect freedom of religious belief

Rory Sewell

james YEO

Jacqueline Staniforth