Monday, May 23, 2005
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO PROMOTE LAW
TO BAN INCITEMENT TO RELIGIOUS HATRED
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
LONDON, ENGLAND (ANS) -- In
the Queen’s Speech on May 17 the newly re-elected Labor government once
again committed itself to introducing a bill banning incitement to
religious hatred.
According to the Barnabas Fund, this will be the third time that the
British government has tried to pass this measure, which was dropped
from the Serious Organized Crime and Police Bill (SOCP) only because
time ran out before May 5 general election.
Speaking on the Today program (BBC Radio 4) Home Secreatry Charles
Clarke, said the purpose of the bill was for "extending to all
religions the legal penalties for incitement to hatred which exist for
some."
Clarke also said that if necessary the government would use the
Parliament Act to force the bill through, as it did for the
anti-hunting bill earlier this year.
Barnabas Fund says, with the Labor Party returned to power with a
reduced majority, this may be more necessary than they envisage.
Following lobbying from Barnabas Fund supporters and others, many MPs
and Lords, from across all the major parties, spoke against this bill
in the last session of Parliament.
Barnabas Fund reports that although the time allowed for debating it
was short due to the constraints of the coming election, Clarke
insisted the issue of the bill’s effects on freedom of speech had been
fully debated before the election.
"As the bill was included in the Labor Party’s election manifesto, the
Salisbury Convention places an obligation on the House of Lords not to
contest it. However, this is a traditional and not a legal obligation,
and it is hoped that the Lords may still voice their concerns,"
Barnabas Fund said.
The organization also says that critics of the law have previously
pointed out that existing legislation banning incitement to violence
and other criminal acts already provides protection if enforced
properly.
They argue that in reality this new law could end up being used to
prevent all reasonable debate and criticism of another person’s
religion and create greater inter-religious tensions.
Barnabas Fund is particularly concerned that the bill could potentially
silence those who speak out on behalf of millions of people who suffer
as a result of particular religious teachings, such as Muslims who
convert to another faith (who should be executed according to Islamic
law) or Dalits (treated as “untouchables” in the traditional Hindu
caste system).
Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be
available
for news editors on request.
Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities mainly, but not
exclusively, in the Islamic world where they are facing poverty and
persecution.
** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in
1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio
station. |
 |
|
