Dangers in religious hatred law?

In the wake of recent tensions between religious groups following the terrorist attacks in the USA, and the subsequent war on terror, the government has proposed outlawing expressions of religious hatred.

The Evangelical Alliance has urged Home Secretary David Blunkett to exercise great care in framing the government's proposed new law - although it guardedly welcomes the principle of protecting faith groups from incitement to racial hatred.

EA policy director, Martyn Eden, warned: 'The danger could be that the freedoms the British people have had for many hundreds of years to practise their religious beliefs, may be threatened by any new law - especially one enacted in haste.

'Mr. Blunkett, therefore, must ensure that any legislation must specifically allow Christians, Muslims, Hindus or members of any other faith group not only to observe the rites, doctrines and traditions of their beliefs, but to express them openly and without fear of persecution.

'Specifically this must ensure that Christians are free, peacefully and respectfully, to share their 2,000 year-old faith with others.'

The pattern elsewhere

Martyn Eden, who is the British representative on the World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberties Commission, also expressed his concerns on how the current international situation may impact on religious liberties elsewhere in the world: 'One of the real dangers at this time of profound international uncertainty is that some governments and people may use it to trample on human rights - particularly Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which seeks to protect the rights of faith groups to worship as they choose.

'We would deplore any "revenge attacks" that may take place against Islamic communities in the UK and ask that any perpetrators face the full force of the criminal law. But by the same token, we would also expect that Christians and other non-Muslims in Islamic states, such as Indonesia and Sudan, would have their human rights to worship Jesus Christ upheld at the highest possible civil and governmental levels.'

An invitation to Muslims

'To encourage this process we therefore invite Islamic leaders in the UK, who have been vocal in seeking this new legislation, to defend the religious freedoms of Christians in those countries and condemn recent waves of violence as clearly and strongly as they have the terrorist atrocities of September 11', he said.

EN approached David Ford of the British Evangelical Council to comment on the proposed new legislation.

He said: 'It is very difficult to legislate for hatred as that involves how people feel. Legislation already exists for penalties for criminal activities against religious groups or buildings. So proposed new legislation seems excessive.

'Moreover, there is a danger of such legislation being misused. In some communities Catholics attending Mass incites religious hatred - as can Orange Order parades. Similarly, would a Boys Brigade church parade come under scrutiny, or would open-air preaching be banned?

'Having said that, the promotion of peaceful coexistence among religious communities is a government responsibility. Such religious freedom has been a significant part of our national history.

'One way for government to promote religious toleration would be the informal meeting together of local religious leaders with civil authorities. Even meeting and talking helps towards an appreciation of one another', he said.

Dangers in religious hatred law?

The pattern elsewhere

An invitation to Muslims

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