A Brazilian judge in São Paulo sentenced Adauto and Ieda Denardi to 50 days in prison for homeschooling their two daughters. The court convicted the parents of intellectual neglect, citing the absence of state-mandated content on gender, sex education, and specific music genres in their curriculum. This marks the first criminal prosecution of home educators in Brazil. Although a prosecutor recommended acquittal based on the girls' academic success, the judge ruled against the parents. The sentence is suspended pending an appeal supported by ADF International, which argues the conviction violates parental rights. The case highlights ongoing legal uncertainty regarding homeschooling in Brazil.
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has suspended the threat of criminal charges against parents in Switzerland who refused to hand over identity documents to facilitate their 16-year-old daughter’s legal gender change. This decision follows an appeal filed last week against a July ruling by Geneva’s Court of Justice. The parents, supported by ADF International, argue their child lacks the capacity to understand the consequences of such medical interventions. The family was separated over a year ago after objecting to the girl’s social transition. The Supreme Court will review the case, with a decision expected within six months.
Parents of primary school students in Austria are seeking legal recourse after their children were subjected to graphic sexuality education without parental consent. According to ADF International, a teacher showed disturbing films and described sexual practices to young pupils, causing nightmares and distress. The Upper Austrian Directorate of Education discontinued disciplinary proceedings against the instructor, a move the parents discovered via media reports. Felix Böllmann of ADF International argues this violates parental rights and international law, attributing the curriculum to WHO standards. The organization is backing the parents' case to hold the school and authorities accountable for failing to protect children from inappropriate content.
Five Brazilian legislators, including Senator Eduardo Girao and deputies Marcel Van Hattem, Adriana Ventura, Gilson Marques, and Ricardo Salles, have filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Represented by ADF International, they allege that the Brazilian government violated their free speech rights through state-sponsored censorship. The complaint highlights the 39-day ban on the social media platform X in August 2024, which the legislators describe as disproportionate and lacking legal basis. According to the petition, the blockade affected over 20 million users and suppressed political expression ahead of national elections. The group seeks international condemnation of these actions to protect democratic freedoms in Brazil.
Avon & Somerset Police have ended a criminal investigation into Pastor Dia Moodley in Bristol, UK, ruling no further action would be taken. The 58-year-old was arrested in November 2025 for commenting on Islam and transgender ideology while street preaching. ADF International supported his legal defense, calling the outcome a victory for free speech. The pastor faced months of de facto censorship due to bail conditions and the threat of rearrest. Although he reported a violent threat from a bystander in April, police refused to investigate it. Moodley is now considering legal action against the force for alleged rights violations and failure to protect him from crime.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Lucas Gallone on UnsplashPersecuted church
A court in northern Nigeria acquitted an evangelist of kidnapping charges after he helped a teenage convert escape death threats from her family. The convert had embraced Christianity years prior, facing severe backlash. Legal advocates argued that providing life-saving assistance is not a crime, and the court agreed, noting the extreme danger the young woman faced if left unprotected. This verdict is seen as a significant victory for religious freedom, highlighting the intense persecution Christians, particularly converts from Islam, endure in the region. The ruling sets a positive precedent for the safety of believers in this hostile environment.
The UK Home Office announced that new buffer zones banning influence near abortion facilities will begin on October 31, 2024. Critics, including ADF UK legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole, argue the law is vague and risks prosecuting peaceful acts like silent prayer. Meanwhile, Adam Smith-Connor, a veteran facing charges for silent prayer in Bournemouth, appeared in court for the second day of his trial. The case highlights concerns about legal clarity and police confusion regarding freedom of thought in public spaces.
A Christian sanitation worker in Pakistan faces a potential death penalty after being accused of downloading blasphemous material on social media. He has been imprisoned for over three years while awaiting a verdict. An advocacy organization supports his defense, citing concerns about an organized network fabricating accusations for extortion. The lead prosecution counsel heads this group, raising fairness issues. According to the National Commission on Human Rights, hundreds have been targeted by similar schemes. The trial has concluded, but proceedings for his co-accused continue before a special court in the capital.
The European Court of Human Rights declared inadmissible a case brought by Daniel and Bianca Samson against Sweden. The couple sought to regain custody of their daughters, who were removed in December 2022. The court ruled the case inadmissible because the parents failed to exhaust all legal remedies within Sweden. ADF International states the family has been separated for over three years despite no evidence of abuse. The Samsons may now pursue freedom of religion claims in national courts. This decision impacts Christian families in Sweden facing child welfare interventions.
Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., regarding her six-year criminal prosecution for a 2019 Bible verse tweet. She warned that European censorship, particularly under the Digital Services Act, threatens global free speech. ADF International legal expert Lorcán Price also testified, arguing that EU regulations risk exporting censorship to American tech companies. Irish comedian Graham Linehan shared his experience with arrest in London. The hearing highlighted concerns that European laws could restrict lawful expression worldwide.
The Helsinki Court of Appeal has dismissed all hate speech charges against Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen and Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola. The unanimous ruling upheld a previous district court decision, finding no justification for restricting their expressions of Christian beliefs regarding marriage and sexual ethics. Räsänen, the former Interior Minister, faced charges for a 2019 tweet and other publications. The court ordered the prosecution to cover legal fees. ADF International, which supported the defense, hailed the verdict as a victory for free speech. The state prosecutor may appeal to the Supreme Court by January 15, 2024.
West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have charged charitable volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce with violating the Public Order Act 2023 in Birmingham, UK. The charge stems from her standing silently outside an abortion facility, marking the first prosecution under new national buffer zones established in October 2024. Vaughan-Spruce, who previously received a settlement for unjust arrests, argues that silent prayer is not a crime. Her legal counsel from ADF International states the law is being used to censor innocent beliefs. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 29, 2026.
Brazilian social media commentator Nine Borges faces a criminal investigation in Brazil for allegedly committing transphobia and defamation. The Federal Police in Brasilia opened the case after Borges posted a video in September 2024 criticizing government funding for pro-LGBT organizations and commenting on LGBT National Secretary Symmy Larrat. Authorities have recommended formal prosecution. ADF International is providing legal support, arguing that the investigation threatens freedom of speech. This case reflects a broader trend in Brazil where peaceful online expression regarding gender ideology is increasingly subject to criminal charges under a 2019 Supreme Federal Tribunal ruling.
Rose Docherty, a 75-year-old woman from Glasgow, Scotland, is scheduled to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on December 17, 2025. She was criminally charged for holding a sign offering consensual conversation within 200 meters of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Scottish law prohibits activities that might influence individuals seeking abortion services in these buffer zones. Although Docherty did not approach anyone, the U.S. State Department condemned the arrest as a suppression of free speech. Her legal team argues the charges are disproportionate, noting she was denied seating in custody despite medical needs. The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding free expression and public order laws in the UK.
The European Commission published its first formal review of the Digital Services Act in Brussels on November 20, 2025, without addressing free speech concerns raised by international experts. ADF International coordinated a letter from over 100 experts warning that the legislation risks global censorship. The Commission denied these threats, claiming the law is content-agnostic. Critics, including US officials and tech companies, argue the rules pressure platforms to remove content, potentially violating fundamental rights. The Commission plans to address these issues in future reviews, but advocates say the current approach ignores significant overreach and extraterritorial effects.
The US State Department has condemned the UK’s abortion clinic buffer zones as an egregious violation of free speech and religious liberty. A spokesperson told The Telegraph that silent prayer and consensual conversation do not constitute harm. This warning follows Vice President JD Vance’s concerns about retreating free speech in Europe. The report highlights cases in England, Wales, and Scotland where individuals, including Isabel Vaughan-Spruce in Birmingham and Livia Tossici-Bolt in Bournemouth, faced legal action for peaceful expression near facilities. The US urges the UK to restore fundamental freedoms.
The United States State Department has welcomed Scotland’s decision to drop legal action against 75-year-old Rose Docherty. Docherty was arrested in February 2025 in Glasgow for holding a sign near Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, which authorities claimed violated a new buffer zone law. Although she engaged in no harassment, she received a formal warning. The Procurator Fiscal confirmed the case was dropped this week, withdrawing the warning and returning her sign. A State Department spokesperson applauded the move as sensible and supportive of free speech. ADF International, which supported Docherty, also praised the outcome as a victory for peaceful conversation rights in Scotland.
The Procurator Fiscal in Scotland has dropped charges against 75-year-old Rose Docherty, who was arrested in Glasgow for holding a sign offering peaceful conversation near an abortion clinic. Docherty refused a formal warning that required admitting wrongdoing. ADF International coordinated her legal defense, calling the decision a victory for freedom of expression. The US State Department had previously expressed concern over the arrest. The case highlights ongoing debates about the scope of buffer zone laws and their impact on private prayer and public dialogue in Scotland.
The U.S. State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Report warns of worsening restrictions on free expression in the United Kingdom. The document highlights criminal and civil laws limiting speech, including buffer zone regulations around abortion facilities. It specifically cites the conviction of army veteran Adam Smith-Connor for silent prayer in Bournemouth. The report also criticizes the Online Safety Act 2023 and Scotland’s Hate Crime Act for expanding government authority over digital communication. ADF International legal counsel Lorcan Price described these developments as a worsening censorship crisis, noting that U.S. allies are increasingly highlighting these concerns.
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