First person charged under UK abortion buffer zone law after silent prayer

A Catholic pro-life campaigner, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, has become the first person to be charged under the UK's new national abortion buffer zone law for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. The charge has sparked renewed debate over freedom of expression and religious liberty. Vaughan-Spruce was charged by West Midlands Police for allegedly standing within the restricted zone with the intention of influencing abortion-related decisions. The case will be closely watched as it proceeds through the courts, with both supporters and critics viewing it as a test of how far the buffer zone law can be interpreted and applied in practice.