In order to protect women from harassment outside of clinics, the Public Order Act forbids protests within 150 meters of clinics or hospitals in the two countries that offer abortion services.
The law, which was approved by the royal assent in May of last year, forbids anybody from doing any action that could be seen as purposefully or carelessly influencing someone’s decision to seek an abortion, obstructing those services, or harassing or upsetting those who use or work at such facilities.
The Home Office states that the zones will go into effect on October 31—more than a year after lawmakers decided to enact similar laws.
It is recognized that silent prayer may potentially fall under the purview of the law. Opponents of abortion have opposed this idea, claiming that doing so would violate their right to freedom of speech and religion.
It seems that the former Conservative government’s draft guidelines on the measure would still permit silent prayer inside the zones.
However, proponents of the prohibition, such as Heidi Stewart, the chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, claimed that quiet prayer must be a part of it “for the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of women accessing healthcare.”.
