Comic Leads Campaign Against Religion Bill

Scotsman ^ | Mon 6 Dec 2004 | Neville Dean

[swilhelm73]

Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson will lead a coalition of comedians, writers and academics today in opposition to a new Government Bill designed to punish extremists who incite religious hatred.

The group, which also includes MPs and representatives of the National Secular Society, is launching a campaign against elements of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill.

The Bill, due for its second reading this week, will create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred to protect faith groups – particularly Muslims – from hate attacks.

But the group believe that there are already enough laws to deal with extremists who incite violence or religious hatred.

They warn that the Bill risks undermining free speech, the freedom of satirists, comedians and writers, and legitimate discussion about religion and religious practices.

Atkinson will be joined for the launch of the campaign in Westminster this evening by columnist Joan Smith, human rights lawyer Anthony Lester QC and speakers from Christian groups the Barnabas Fund and the Lawyer’s Christian Fellowship.

Atkinson said: “Freedom of expression must be protected for artists and entertainers and we must not accept a bar on the lampooning of religion and religious leaders.

“There is an obvious difference between the behaviour of racist agitators who can be prosecuted under existing laws and the activities of satirists and writers who may choose to make comedy or criticism of religious belief, practices or leaders, just as they do with politics.”

Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris, who is chairing tonight’s meeting, said: “There is a great deal of concern about these proposals across political parties.

“There are already enough laws to deal with incitement to violence and to deal with disorderly behaviour based on religious grounds, but it is essential that we maintain free speech in discussing and criticising religious ideas, doctrines and practices.”

Paul Cook, advocate manager of the Barnabas Fund, added: “There is a real danger that this law could be used by extremists to silence organisations like ourselves from highlighting the persecution of Christians and other human rights abuses which occur within some religious communities.”

But a Home Office spokeswoman defended the Bill, insisting it would not interfere with the right to free speech.

She said: “There is a clear difference between criticism of a religion and the act of inciting hatred against members of a religious group.

“The incitement offences have a high criminal threshold and prosecutions require the consent of the Attorney General.

“There has not been a widespread sense that the existing offence has interfered with free speech and we are confident that an offence of incitement to religious hatred will not do so either.”

[My2Cents]

There's a similar law in Australia.

[PoorMuttly]

...just how cunning a plan IS it...as cunning as............

[hattend]

I always liked Rowan Atkinson

Good for him.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

OH you've got me on this one - I can't recall exact words but do remember the cunning plan when Blackadder decided to save time and lopped off the heads of all the men to be executed during the week. The wife petitioned the Queen to see her husband one last time........... Edmund stood on a box and pretended to be her husband...

[Oztrich Boy]

LF: I am prepared for the fact that he may have lost some weight.
P: Yes, and some height. That's the interesting thing, eh, you'll probably hardly recognise him at all actually.
LF: You'll be telling me his arm's grown back next.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Lady Farrow: Well then, let us leap on the moment that we have been given and use it to its full.

BlackAdder: What ?

LF: Let me do this last thing for you! What wife could do more ?

BA: What? Oh, I see. Enter Baldric.

Baldric: Right, that's it. Time up!

BA: No it isn't.

B: Yes it is! Come along. Time's up! Come along.

LF: Oh we've had so little time. May we finish what we began in paradise. Farewell.

B Farewell.

Exit LF.

BA: Baldrick, you bastard! You utter bastard! That was the first time ever, in my whole life. I've been on this pultry, boring planet for 30 years and that's the first time ever anyone has ever attempted...