Gay Today: World

London: Proposal Extends
Blasphemy Laws by Stealth

Compiled by GayToday

London, England--David Blunkett's proposed new legislation outlawing incitement to religious hatred is being condemned as "divisive, discriminatory and dangerous" by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

"Why should religion be given special, privileged legal protection? If there is going to be a new law against incitement, it should cover belief, faith and opinion - not just religion. It should also be extended to protect all vulnerable social groups, including travellers, people with HIV, and lesbians and gay men".

"There is a serious danger that this legislation could extend the blasphemy laws by stealth, undermining freedom of speech and stifling legitimate satire and criticism of religious beliefs and institutions".

"Muslims rightly want protection against hate crimes, yet many Muslim leaders promote prejudice and discrimination against women and homosexuals. They want tolerance and protection for themselves, but they are not prepared to support tolerance and protection for others".

"A law against incitement to religious hatred could be abused to prosecute people like Salman Rushdie, Richard Dawkins and others critics of religious superstition. It might also be misused against feminist and gay organisations protesting against religious intolerance".

"In 1994, I was prosecuted for protesting outside a rally of Islamic fundamentalists who were advocating the murder of homosexuals. I was charged under the Public Order Act for displaying a placard that read: 'Iran beheads and burns queers' -- a reference to the means by which Iran executes lesbians and gay men. The prosecution alleged that this placard caused offence to Muslims and was likely to incite public disorder. The charge was thrown out, but it illustrates how easily the law can be abused to suppress legitimate protests against religious bigotry".

"I would support David Blunkett's new law only if it is limited to incitement that is likely to result in imminent violence or harassment, and only if it offered protection to people based on their belief, faith or opinion and to other vulnerable social groups such as travellers, lesbians and gay men, and people with HIV".

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"The mere causing of insult or offence should not be a crime. The right to insult and offend others is a benchmark of freedom of speech. As much as I deplore homophobia, I defend the right of homophobes to express their opinions".

"This new law reverses the government's refusal to get tough with anti-religious hate crimes during the passage of the Crime & Disorder Bill in 1998. Three years ago, Ministers vetoed an amendment they commissioned me to draft, which would have extended the tough new penalties for race hate crimes to hate crimes against religious and sexual minorities".