An activist whose case was mentioned by the US State Department regarding fears of “freedom of expression” in the United Kingdom has been convicted of violating a buffer zone outside the abortion clinic.
Levia Termesi Bolt, an anti -abortion activist, concluded a trial in the Magistrate’s Court last month on charges of violating the order to protect public spaces within two days in March 2023 near the clinic in Bournemouth. On Friday, two charges were convicted of violating the matter.
Thismi-Polt gave conditional secretions and ordered that no additional crimes over two years have been committed. She ordered the payment of costs of 20,000 pounds to what the judge said was the “large” resources spent by the local authority, along with 26 pounds for additional fees for the victim.
A delegation from the Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), an office within the US State Department, met last month during a visit to the United Kingdom, along with the US-backed abortion group, which was supporting its case.
Judge Austin said he was undoubtedly that this was a doubt that this was participating in the act of rejecting abortion services in the days concerned. The judge said: “It lacks an insightful view that its presence can have a harmful effect on women who bring the clinic, their partners, employees and members of the public.”
Thesici-Polt stood with a reading banner “Here to Speak, if you want” facing the British Consulting Service Clinic (BPAS), which was previously targeted by anti-abortion activists who gathered nearby before Bournemouth and Poole Council put this matter.
There was no immediate reaction from the US State Department after the recent DRL statement that he was watching the case and that “it is important to respect the United Kingdom and protect freedom of expression.”
A spokesman for the Downing Street said that it is very important that women who use abortion services can do so “without harassing or distress” and that the right to protest did not “give people the right to harass others.”
In response to a question about whether there is a problem with freedom of expression in the UK, a British spokesman said, “A very proud tradition of freedom of expression for many centuries, and we are still proud of it today.”
The court previously heard evidence from the council’s enforcement officers who said that they had asked Thossici-Polt to leave the area in the two days after receiving calls from a member of the public and from the employees inside the clinic.
Thasici-Polt told one of the officers that she was falling on herself outside the clinic “because from my experience, women come here in a very single case.” The matter has banned protests and other direct or indirect activities that could affect users of the abortion clinic and was in its place on the week until 7 pm. She was asked to leave the area during that period.
Austin said that Trescy Bolt could have gone to another place given that people who were alone could be found everywhere. She said: “I accept that her beliefs were real beliefs. Although this acceptance carries life -supporting opinions, it is important to note that this issue is not related to rights and errors about abortion, but about whether the defendant is in PSPO violation (the command to protect public spaces), she said.
The judgment was welcomed by BPAS, who said that the result would protect women and employees who have sponsored abortion.
“The clinic in Bournemouth has been subjected to decades of anti -abortion protests that led to more than 500 reports on harassment before this local safe access zone is run.
“This issue was never related to global policy, but about the simple ability of women to reach legal health care free of harassment.”
While discussing the costs, the hearing was told that Theissici-Polt had great assets and received a grant from the Defense for Freedom (ADF), a charity registered in the United Kingdom, supported by a conservative American organization of the same name.
Kolgit Phajal Ki CC told the council that ADF UK had an income of more than 1.3 million pounds in the year until June 2024 and that at least one of the employees was a salary of more than 100,000 pounds, according to the records provided in House Companies. the The Guardian mentioned on Wednesday about these deposits How ADF operations have been expanded.
The global subsidiary, Adf International, said it supports Thomici-Polt because it evaluates its options in terms of appeal. Robert Clark, Adf International Call, described the ruling as “a terrible failure of justice.”
