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Author Topic: UK: Bill to ban religious hate moves foreward
Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795

posted 22 June 2005 09:17 AM      Profile for Hephaestion   Author's Homepage        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
(London) Controversial legislation that would outlaw inciting religious hatred survived an important vote in Britain's House of Commons on Tuesday night. After a second debate over the bill, a bid by the opposition to block the legislation lost by a vote of 303-246.

It will now go to a legislative committee. If it passes without changes, the legislation will face a third and final debate and vote in the Commons. If it survives that, the bill will become law if approved by the House of Lords.

The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill aims to extend a current law against inciting racial hatred to cover stirring up hatred against people due to their religion.

The plans were first floated after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Ministers said the law would protect minorities from bias and target extremists who use religion to stir up tension. Opponents, who have already forced the government to drop the plans twice, fear it could undermine freedom of speech.

Actor Rowan Atkinson - best known as bumbling comic character Mr. Bean - has led a coalition of performers, academics and politicians who oppose the law, arguing it will inhibit discussion of religion and could criminalize satire. The government has dismissed such criticism.



From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
Rufus Polson
rabble-rouser
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posted 22 June 2005 05:58 PM      Profile for Rufus Polson     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
So, this isn't a bill to ban people inciting hate on religious grounds, but a bill to ban people inciting hate against religions.
Whether this is a good thing could depend a great deal on how broadly it's written. The basic idea is a good one. But if it's written so broadly as to criminalize basically all non-positive comment about religion or religious figures, that might make it awfully tough to criticize religious politics and generally be an unacceptable level of restriction on speech. Blair's somewhat fundy by British standards, isn't he? I can envision him arranging for such a broad wording.

From: Caithnard College | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
No Yards
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posted 22 June 2005 06:26 PM      Profile for No Yards   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Unless it bans hate against religion, even if that hate is based on religious doctrine, then it just opens the door for a reverse descrimination where religions are free to hate everyone, but no one can critize a religion unless they can come up with a religious reason that falls in line with contemporary mainstream religious doctrine.

Canada already has this law, it says that it is ilegal ti incite hate against protected groups, with the excemption being that religions preaching from their relgious texts and talking points can spread as much hate as they wish.

If they are going to have a law like this then no one should be allowed to spread hate anytimne, any where ... if they *HAVE* to apply a religious excemption, then *ONLY* in their offical place of community worship. They take one step outside their church and no exception no matter if they are reading from the original manuscript in Jesus's own handwriting.

I'm sick and tired of religions being given more rights than the non religious.


From: Defending traditional marriage since June 28, 2005 | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Carter
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posted 23 June 2005 03:26 AM      Profile for Carter        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
This bill is pure evil. Period.
From: Goin' Down the Road | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged
Gir Draxon
leftist-rightie and rightist-leftie
Babbler # 3804

posted 23 June 2005 05:30 AM      Profile for Gir Draxon     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
It's always a double-edged sword. While I do beleive that it is a good thing to try and curtail religious hate, there is always the possibility of the Christian Reich abusing something like this by jumping up and down screaming "Discirmination! Christophobia!" every time they get called on inciting hate (which of course has nothing to do with the teachings of Christ).

Maybe there should be a religious exemption, but a counter-exemption for preachers of hate.....


From: Arkham Asylum | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged
Albion1
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9652

posted 28 June 2005 08:46 PM      Profile for Albion1     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Does the UK have laws against hatred against gays and lesbians? I think Homophobia is as bad as Christophobia because any hate is bad!
From: Toronto, ON. Canada | Registered: Jun 2005  |  IP: Logged
Cougyr
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posted 28 June 2005 11:45 PM      Profile for Cougyr     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
And where do the English propose to apply this law? Londonderry?
From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
Coyote
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4881

posted 28 June 2005 11:46 PM      Profile for Coyote   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
DERRY.
From: O’ for a good life, we just might have to weaken. | Registered: Jan 2004  |  IP: Logged

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