‘Ludicrous’ hate crime law may see Christians in court

Scottish Christians are waiting to find out how they will be impacted by Holyrood’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order Act – as last minute efforts to halt it continued while en went to press.

The new law, scheduled to take effect from 1 April, ‘creates a new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups covered by the Bill’ – including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the Scottish Parliament website.

And it warns: ‘Crimes motivated by prejudice will be treated more seriously and will not be tolerated by society.’ The new legislation also abolishes the offence of blasphemy.