[Ed. More Orwellian thought-crime legislation. Tony Blair and his cronies will
let you know when you can have an opinion...]
Religious hate law would protect witches and cults
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/story.jsp?story=645619
By Nigel Morris
10 June 2005
Satanists, witches and cult members will be protected by controversial new
laws banning incitement to religious hatred.
The legislation, which has twice been abandoned in the face of resistance
from opposition parties, writers and comedians who argue it threatens free
speech, is designed to protect Muslims from extreme prejudice.
[Ed. Why are they even in the country to start with?]
But as it launched a fresh attempt to drive the law on to the statute book,
the Government said the law would carry a wide-ranging definition of
religion. Officials confirmed it could include satanists, pagans and
religious sects. The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill will also cover people
defined by their lack of faith, such as atheists and humanists.
Only one or two prosecutions a year are expected under the law, which will
carry a maximum jail sentence of seven years, but ministers argue that it
will send out a powerful message that inciting racial hatred will not be
tolerated.
[Ed. Intolerance will not be tolerated - what does that make them then?]
The Home Office minister Paul Goggins insisted that riots might not have
broken out in northern towns such as Oldham and Bradford in 2001 had such
legislation been in place. He said the new criminal offence would be very
tightly drawn and would not outlaw comedians' jokes, criticism of religion
or provocative commentary on religion.
"People will say offensive things, people will put on offensive plays and
there may be literature that causes offence. But the test is: 'Does this
incite hatred in another person?'"
Mr Goggins added: "This will be a line in the sand which indicates to people
a line beyond which they cannot go. People of all backgrounds and faiths
have a right to live free from hatred, racism and extremism."
[Ed. All motherhood stuff really - meanwhile you just lost your right to
criticise government policy...]
The proposed measure covers comments made in speeches and other public
appearances, media interviews and articles. It puts Muslims on the same
footing as Jews and Sikhs, who are covered by race-hate legislation.
The Government had to give up its first attempt to bring in laws against
religious hatred in 2002 because of fierce opposition in the Lords. A second
effort was abandoned when time ran out before the general election.
Labour promised the measure in its election manifesto and the Government has
said it is prepared to use the Parliament Act to force it into law.
It has been backed by the Muslim Council of Britain and police chiefs.
The actor and writer Stephen Fry told Radio 4's PM programme that the Bill
was "rather shaming" and "an embarrassment to the statute book".
"It just suggests it's not a thought-through or needed piece of
legislation," he said. "It is something to please communities."
The author Salman Rushdie has complained that the measure would "sacrifice
freedom of speech in order to placate Muslim voters".
Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: "This offence is capable of
catching attacks on ideas as well as people.
"At best this is an empty sop to a community sorely let down by government.
At worst it is a dangerous new blasphemy law out of step with our best
traditions." David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said the law would be
"massively counter-productive" and "seriously undermine freedom of speech".
He said: "Religion, unlike race, is a matter of personal choice and
therefore appropriate for open debate."
[Ed. *EVERYTHING* is open for debate in a democratic society...the more
"protective" legislation is imposed on its citizens, the more the state has
failed...]
--
Jim
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Western_Nationalist/
Union Against Multi-Culty
"Abolish Multi-Culty and String Up The Traitors!"
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214770. Religious hate law
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