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A wise column by Geoffrey Robertson in The Scotsman (thanks to Teri), although I doubt that his prediction that a Muslim cleric will fall victim to the statute will prove true in the current climate:
TODAY, my friend Salman Rushdie - whose life is still under threat from Islamic extremists - will lead a delegation of writers to ask the Home Office to abandon its plans for a new offence of "inciting religious hatred". The proposed offence has nothing to do with combating terrorism or crime: it is an entirely unnecessary restriction on a freedom to criticise religion that is more necessary now than ever...."Religious hatred" is defined as widely as possible: it means "hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief". Incredibly, this would include Satanists and secularists as well as Rastafarians, Sikhs and children of God.
The offence is committed if religious "hatred" (ie intense dislike of its dogma) is likely to be "stirred up" (whatever that colloquial phrase may mean).
This clumsy drafting has produced a very serious offence - seven years’ imprisonment is also the maximum sentence for arms smuggling - which can be committed by harsh but truthful attacks on the most unprepossessing people, merely if they belong to a group "defined by reference to religious beliefs" and are likely to take offence, for reasons that may be paranoid or vicious....
False hopes seem to have been raised in Muslim communities that critics and apostates will be jailed for blaspheming against Islam.
But the real victims of the new law will be those very people whose punitive expectations have been raised so high. Just as the black power advocate Michael X was the first to be jailed for "incitement to racial hatred", back in 1968, so I expect that it will be a Muslim cleric who has railed against Christianity who will be the first to suffer prosecution for inciting religious hatred. The law will serve to create martyrs - laws which criminalise free speech always do - and jury acquittals of offensive speech will serve as public relations triumphs for bigots and fanatics.
Posted by Robert at January 26, 2005 5:34 AM
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The law will serve to create martyrs - laws which criminalise free speech always do - and jury acquittals of offensive speech will serve as public relations triumphs for bigots and fanatics
There is literally massive opposition to this law from left to right in my eyes, this legislation cannot go through. Further enforcing of political correctness through law will only cause backlash. Politicans take heed.
Posted by: freestar![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 26, 2005 7:14 AM
This is a terrible law, here in Australia we have a trial case in the state of Victoria. As many of you have read here earlier 2 Christian pastors were charged with religious vilification when they quoted from the Koran in their sermon. It’s hard to believe that they are punished for the contents of the Koran vilifying its self but it is true. The case is gong to the Supreme Court soon.
Surely laws to protect against violence and riot etc are sufficient, also the fundamental right to free speech and opinion and communication of this. Seems it is not so free. …
Of course it is Islam who are the victims……. Seems strange that only Islam ever seems to take offence at criticism, I haven’t seen a Buddhist, Atheist or a Christian bring these charges on anyone, maybe they should start,
at January 26, 2005 9:31 AM
"This clumsy drafting..."
Clumsy. Vague. Overly-broad.
This law doesn't stand a snow ball's chance in Hell in appeals court.
at January 26, 2005 12:08 PM
"But the real victims of the new law will be those very people whose punitive expectations have been raised so high. Just as the black power advocate Michael X was the first to be jailed for "incitement to racial hatred", back in 1968, so I expect that it will be a Muslim cleric who has railed against Christianity who will be the first to suffer prosecution for inciting religious hatred. The law will serve to create martyrs - laws which criminalise free speech always do - and jury acquittals of offensive speech will serve as public relations triumphs for bigots and fanatics. "
"A wise column by Geoffrey Robertson in The Scotsman (thanks to Teri), although I doubt that his prediction that a Muslim cleric will fall victim to the statute will prove true in the current climate:"
It might if only someone pressed the Home Office (or whatever government agency) to bring a complaint.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at January 26, 2005 12:32 PM
In case anyone is in any doubt what Jihad means, check out the horse's (camel's?)mouth:
http://www.khilafah.com/home/category.php?DocumentID=10689&TagID=1
Posted by: Interestd at January 26, 2005 5:03 PM
Good article with one exception: the famous black power leader was MALCOLM X, not Michael X. Shame on the Scotsman for not checking that one out before publishing it.
Posted by: gypsygirl at January 26, 2005 11:11 PM
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