 he controversial bill to make incitement
to religious hatred a criminal offence is at the time of
writing, on its way to being passed.
The Government is extending protection to prevent hatred
being stirred up against people targeted because of their
religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs, as well people
targeted because of their race. This is being done through
the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Bill, by expanding
the existing criminal offences of incitement to racial hatred
contained in the Public Order Act 1986. The proposals will
make it an offence to knowingly use words, behaviour or material
that is threatening, abusive or insulting with the intention
or likely effect that hatred will be stirred up against a
group of people targeted because of their religious beliefs
or lack of religious beliefs, as well as those targeted on
racial grounds.
Critics voiced concerns that this additional ‘protection’ could
prohibit performers making religious jokes, but ministers
say it will not impede freedom of speech. Comedian Rowan
Atkinson supported the attempt to tighten the definition
of racial and religious hatred, arguing that the legislation
was problematic because it was ‘all-encompassing’;
that ‘the incitement of religious hatred doesn't even
have to be intended, it is just if it offends any person’.
However, the government took note of concerns and changed
the wording to that seen above; the proposed offence of causing ‘racial
or religious hatred’ to ‘hatred against persons
on racial or religious grounds’. Home Office Minister
Hazel Blears said the change would help clarify the situation.
She told MPs: ‘This is about protecting people, not
about the ability to criticise, ridicule, lampoon and have
fundamental disagreements about beliefs. ‘It is absolutely
right in a modern democracy that people should have the ability
to engage in that robust and vigorous debate and the position
of the government is not that we seek to outlaw that at all.’
This change is crucial. Obviously, individuals should not
be attacked or persecuted for their beliefs, but equally,
those beliefs should be subjected to scrutiny, criticism
and even ridicule. There is a fundamental difference between
attacking an individual and that individual’s belief
system.
Many have already written on this subject already, and ‘fundamentalists’ of
several religions have demanded that anyone who criticises
their religion be prosecuted. If they wish to protect their
inflexible beliefs and religious legal systems from scrutiny,
surely this suggests they have something to be secretive
about. Someone may say, and in fact many do, that their religious
texts, which they believe to be divine, condemn homosexuality,
and that this is, as the Bible says, an ‘abomination’.
They have every right to sincerely hold this view, and proclaim
it to the world at large. Others, religious and secular,
have an equal right to condemn this belief as absurd, and
campaign against any form of discrimination based on this
belief.
There are many current religious practices, observed
stringently by millions, which appear outdated, anachronistic,
even discriminatory in modern societies, and anyone has a
right to criticise these. There is also, in my opinion, much
wrong with our current secular society, and its values of
greed, materialism, selfishness, and short-term thinking,
which many religious followers condemn, and try to bring ‘holy’ values
to this world. They are also right to do so. Religious and
secular have much to learn from each other, and enabling
full dialogue, discussion, critique of any and every sincerely-held
value system leads to democracy, tolerance, understanding,
harmony, and maybe even necessary change.
Religion is very important to me. I studied Theology and
Religious Studies at University, and have been interested
in religion since early childhood. Though I myself am not
a strict adherent to any one faith, I do follow several religious
practices and festivals in the year, and believe religious
faith and values are important and significant to today’s
society. I fully support the right of anyone to practise
their religion in any way they choose, without harm to others,
and subscribe to any belief system or theory, even to declare
that their religion is the True one and anyone else is an
infidel, heretic and destined for damnation. That is freedom.
I believe that religion has a pivotal role on an individual
and societal level, and enriches cultures and individuals’ lives.
Equally, I also firmly believe that each individual has
the right to deride, mock or ridicule any religious or belief
system they wish, and to publicly declare any or all a load
of nonsense, and its followers fools to subscribe to such
rubbish. Religion is the cause of many problems in the world,
and it is right to scrutinise it, subject it to criticism,
and make fun of its absurdities. As previously stated, no-one
has the right to incite others to attack any individual or
group for any reason, religious or not. I can ridicule a
group of peoples’ beliefs, but I cannot incite others
to harm them or their institutions because of this belief.
I believe religious tolerance is vital, and fully discussing
in-depth each religious belief enables greater respect and
understanding. Equally, allowing full criticism enables free
speech and openness. It is when people are ignorant and truth
is covered up that prejudice flourishes. |
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