In March of this year, the United Kingdom notoriously became the first Western democracy to go so far as to ban even silent prayer in the name of abortion “rights” across all of England and Wales. Scotland is considering a similar move. The German government has repeatedly indicated the same.
However, on June 20, a top court in Germany ruled that the government cannot impose blanket bans on peaceful prayer gatherings outside abortion facilities. The significance of this ruling is momentous; it comes at the same time the German federal government is attempting to introduce a nationwide ban on prayer and pro-life gatherings around all abortion facilities. However, in light of last week’s ruling, Germany will now have to think twice before moving forward with the intended introduction of “censorship zones” across the country.
This is a win for all in Germany who desire to exercise the right to peacefully pray and gather without fear of government punishment.
The story goes as follows: Twice a year, members of the pro-life group 40 Days for Life would gather in front of an abortion facility in the city of Pforzheim to hold a silent prayer vigil. Pro Familia — the German partner of Planned Parenthood — complained, which led the city to ban the group from praying across the street from the facility in 2019.
In August 2022, a lower court ruled in favor of the right to peaceful assembly. And now, the Federal Administrative Court has upheld the group’s fundamental human
