Christian Woman Convicted for Breaching Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone
(Photo: Alliance Defending Freedom)
In a controversial court ruling, a 64-year-old Christian woman, Dr. Livia Tossici-Bolt, has been found guilty of violating a buffer zone established around an abortion clinic. The court’s decision has sparked discussions about the balance between free speech and legal restrictions.
Dr. Tossici-Bolt was convicted at Poole Magistrates’ Court and received a conditional discharge. Additionally, she has been ordered to cover prosecution costs amounting to £20,000 by the end of May. A fundraising campaign has been launched to assist her with these expenses.
Expressing her disappointment, she remarked, “I was not protesting and did not harass or obstruct anyone. All I did was offer consensual conversation in a public place, as is my basic right, and yet the court found me guilty.”
The incident occurred when she displayed a sign in Bournemouth’s buffer zone, which simply read “Here to talk, if you want”. This area prohibits any acts that could be perceived as approving or disapproving abortion. Dr. Tossici-Bolt contended that her actions did not contravene buffer zone regulations since she merely intended to engage in open conversation.
Interestingly, her conviction comes on the heels of an intervention by the US State Department, which underscored the significance of free speech in US-UK diplomatic relations. Following her conviction, Dr. Tossici-Bolt is considering her legal options.
She voiced her concerns, saying, “Freedom of expression is in a state of crisis in the UK. What has happened to this country? The US State Department was right to be concerned by this case as it has serious implications for the entire Western world.”
Her legal representative, Lorcán Price from Alliance Defending Freedom UK, emphasized the importance of free speech in this context: “Everyone who cares about free speech should care about ‘buffer zones’. A Christian woman has been convicted merely for offering to chat on a public street in Britain. This ruling should show all reasonable people that, beyond the shadow of a doubt, abortion facility ‘buffer zones’ are incompatible with a free society.”
The case is not isolated, as the same judge has recently ruled against another pro-life advocate, Adam Smith-Connor, who is awaiting an appeal hearing in July.
Further highlighting the tension, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council, which is responsible for the prosecution, has reportedly spent nearly £150,000 on these cases, a significant expenditure for a financially constrained council, as reported by The Telegraph.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
