UK & Ireland in Brief

The Metropolitan Police have apologised to evangelical street preacher Hatun Tash, paying her £10,000 compensation for wrongful arrest and unlawful imprisonment.

A former Muslim, Tash had asked the police for assistance on two occasions when she was being harassed by Muslim demonstrators – but they arrested her instead. In one case, she was held in custody for 24 hours before being released without charge. A police inspector wrote and apologised for the distress she suffered and acknowledged ‘that on these occasions the level of service did fall below the requisite standard’.

Several cross-party peers have spoken out against Stella Creasy’s amendment to the Public Order Bill introducing buffer zones outside abortion clinics.

So-called ‘Clause 9’ would, in its current form, also ban offers of help and alternatives to abortion to pregnant women. Lord Beith warned of damage to the ‘historic rights of free speech’ and legitimate ‘actions of innocent people … could be made the subject of criminal prosecution’; while Baroness Hoey criticised the wording of the clause, saying it was too broad. The government has admitted that the amendment is incompatible with human rights law – but that does not prevent it becoming law.

A woman and her friend who were praying outside of an abortion clinic buffer zone in Bournemouth were ordered to move on by council-employed community safety officers.

Livia Tossici-Bolt said they were told prayer could cause ‘intimidation, harassment or distress’. She said: ‘Everyone has the freedom to pray quietly in a public place … We complied with the new rules instituted by the council and didn’t pray within the censorship zone … nevertheless, these prayer-patrol officers tried to intimidate us out of exercising our freedom of thought and of expression – in the form of prayer – which has been a foundational part of our society for generations’.

The founder of Voice for Justice UK, Lynda Rose has been ‘no-platformed’ in Parliament after being invited to speak at the recent conference on ending violence against women and girls.

Days before the event, conference chair and Labour MP Paulette Hamilton ordered her invitation to be withdrawn, allegedly because her views on LGBT issues were unacceptable and dangerous. Rose said this was ‘scandalous’ and added: ‘This is clear and unashamed discrimination against Christians by those committed to a new and hostile “faith’’ ’.

A venue booking for a conference on education and indoctrination, organised by the Christian Institute and other organisations, was cancelled three days before the event after opposition from LGBT staff at the venue.

An email from the venue operator, Agile City, said the conference content would be ‘in opposition to the values held by our team and staff members who comprise part of the LGBTQ+ community’. It said staff booked to manage the event were unwilling to work. Dr Stuart Waiton, one of the organisers, said it illustrated ‘the dangerous and deeply intolerant times we live in, where any discussion or disagreement about issues like race and gender are silenced’.

In November London Gospel Partnership organised the Pray for London event attended by leadership teams from across the capital and across denominations, networks and mission organisations.

Hosted by London City Mission, the event continued its aim as we prayed to the Lord for gospel advance in the capital.