Friday, June 10, 2005

Racial and Religious Hatred Bill passed in UK: will it stifle free speech?

How can Christians in the United Kingdom now proselytize people of other faiths without risk of being charged with a hate crime? This is a red letter day for religious pluralism. And for those who disguise their actual intolerance of free speech--especially religious speech--by restricting it, all in the name of "tolerance".

In the marketplace of ideas, hopefully, Pope Benedict's mandate to re-evangelize one of those little parts of Europe--Britain--hasn't been fatally compromised.

telegraph.co.uk
Friday 10 June 2005

Now you face jail for being nasty to Satanists

By Joshua Rozenberg, Legal Editor
(Filed: 10/06/2005)

Extremist religious groups that advocate child abuse will be given protection under a Bill published by the Government yesterday.

The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill would outlaw remarks considered likely to stir up hatred against all religious groups, including those whose followers believe in beating children to drive out demons.

The Bill contains no definition of "religious belief" and ministers confirmed it would cover members of the African religion whose adherents were convicted last week of cruelty to a girl of eight they regarded as a witch.

Satanists, pagans and atheists would be protected.

Having good reason for making insulting comments that could provoke hatred of a particular religious doctrine would be no defence, nor would the fact that they were true.

Opponents said the Bill would seriously undermine freedom of speech.
In line with the existing offence of stirring up racial hatred, the new religious hatred legislation would apply to threatening, abusive or insulting words, behaviour or written material. It would cover authors, publishers, theatre directors, film distributors and broadcasters.

more...

BBC News-World Edition

Thursday, 9 June, 2005, 20:00 GMT 21:00 UK

New effort to ban religious hate

Controversial plans to make incitement to religious hatred illegal have been unveiled by the government.

The new offence gives equal protection to all faiths. Jews and Sikhs are already covered by race hate laws.

Critics say the reintroduced plans - which cover words or behaviour intended or likely to stir up religious hatred - will stifle free speech.

Ministers insist the new law would not affect "criticism, commentary or ridicule of faiths".

'Preserve tolerance'

The Racial and Religious Hated Bill would create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred and would apply to comments made in public or in the media, as well as through written material.

more...

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