Posted on 12/07/2004 5:26:31 PM PST by 26lemoncharlie
Last Updated: Tuesday, 7 December, 2004, 16:50 GMT
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Religious jokes 'won't be crime'
The comedian said he was worried about freedom of speech David Blunkett has told MPs a new law targeting "incitement to religious hatred" will not curtail free speech. He said the measure "will not criminalise material just because it stirs up ridicule, prejudice, dislike, contempt or anger".
The plans have come under fire from comedian Rowan Atkinson who is worried that the powers will stop him telling jokes and satirising people's beliefs.
The Tories oppose the plan and the Lib Dems have "serious doubts" over it.
Opposition
Mr Blunkett told MPs it was to protect people who "feel threatened ... and feel society is not embracing them".
He said: "We are trying to stop groups of people who are prepared verbally, in writing and through the internet, to incite others to hate because of someone's faith not because of the argument about their faith."
He added that it would not stop people from making jokes about religion.
But Tory spokesman David Davis said his party would seek to remove the section on incitement to religious hatred from the bill.
'Unacceptable'
He said the plans if implemented would be "profound and wide-reaching, and not necessarily that intended".
"The danger is that this legislation will curb freedom of speech without any benefit being realised from the legislation," said Mr Davis.
For the Lib Dems, David Heath said it was "absolutely unacceptable" for anyone to promote hatred against any group of people because of their religion which, he added, was "often a cipher for racial hatred in another form".
"But that doesn't stop me having serious doubts about the form the government has chosen to bring forward this legislation."
Inappropriate?
On Monday, Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson launched a comedians' campaign against the plan.
The Mr Bean actor says it is "wholly inappropriate" and could stifle freedom of speech.
Speaking at Westminster, Mr Atkinson was backed by a group of writers, MPs and the National Secular Society.
They oppose part of the bill which will create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred to protect faith groups, particularly Muslims, from attack.
There are already enough laws to deal with such extremists, they say.
Conflict?
Mr Atkinson told a meeting at the House of Commons on Monday night there are "quite a few sketches" he has performed which would come into conflict with the proposed law.
He added: "To criticise a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous but to criticise their religion, that is a right. That is a freedom.
"The freedom to criticise ideas, any ideas - even if they are sincerely held beliefs - is one of the fundamental freedoms of society.
"A law which attempts to say you can criticise and ridicule ideas as long as they are not religious ideas is a very peculiar law indeed."
Comedians are worried about freedom of speech
He said he had sympathy with the law's backers, particular British Muslims, but added: "I appreciate this measure is an attempt to provide comfort and protection to them.
"But unfortunately it is wholly inappropriate response far more likely to promote tension between communities than tolerance."
Other parts of the bill would put on a formal basis the practice of giving lighter sentences to offenders who give evidence against accomplices.
And there would be a new law to stop trespassing on specified royal and government property - a response to the "comedy terrorist" who managed to get into Prince William's birthday party at Windsor Castle last year.
,,, Rowan should forget about religious jokes for a while - it's high time he saw the opportunity staring him in the face... it's clear the biggest joke of all is government.
What an utterly unworkable standard! People should just remember the old adage, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never harm me." Our First Amendment jurisprudence with its "clear and present danger" standard is much better and more protective of free speech.
The muslims are probably being a lot kinder to the comedians than they realize. Remember that Salman Rushdie had a bounty put on his head by muslims when he blasphemed Allah (or was it Mohammed?).
The muslims just want to force comedians to hold their tongue (least it be cut out entirely).
Shaira Law anyone?
When your rights are endowed by men, then men can take them away. Twits!
Sure, that's what he means but how would it play out in practice? Didn't that Swedish pastor spend time in jail for preaching the bible? Wasn't there a case in Canada that was similar?
I guess what they really mean is that they won't prosecute people who ridicule Christianity (which is fair game, in my opinion) but they will prosecute Christians who ridicule other religions.
If a free society begins to legislate people into politeness, it is no longer a free society. I would not want to criminalize satire based on religion, race, sex, or anything else. And Atkinson is missing a fortune if he doesn't start making fun of Zapatero immediately.
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