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| Europe |
| Now you face jail for being nasty to Satanists (and Mooselimbs) |
| 2005-06-10 |
| From the UK, although Norway has similar legislation and other EU countries for all I know. Extremist religious groups that advocate child abuse will be given protection under a Bill published by the Government yesterday. The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill would outlaw remarks considered likely to stir up hatred against all religious groups, including those whose followers believe in beating children to drive out demons. The Bill contains no definition of "religious belief" and ministers confirmed it would cover members of the African religion whose adherents were convicted last week of cruelty to a girl of eight they regarded as a witch. Satanists, pagans and atheists would be protected. Looks to me like suicide bombers would be protected as well. Having good reason for making insulting comments that could provoke hatred of a particular religious doctrine would be no defence, nor would the fact that they were true. So it doesn't matter if what you say, nor does it what your intention was. It only matters that it is 'considered likely to stir up hatred'. I guess that depends on who is doing the 'considering and as we know some religions are more sensitive to (valid) criticism than others. Snip, Reg Required |
| Posted by:phil_b |
| #6 Blasphemy laws! Well at least those lucky Euros don't have to live in GWB's theocracy. /sarcasm |
| Posted by: bzzzzt 2005-06-10 12:57 |
| #5 Not really splitting hairs, BH. Hinduism would still exist if Christianity did not, but Satanism couldn't, since it exists only to be in opposition to Christianity. A "second-order" religion, if you like. And since it exists only to ally with what they and others recognize as evil, I don't quite see how any of the usual arguments for religious tolerance apply. Given that most of the "Satanists" I've heard of are angst-y adolescents, I suppose this bill makes it an offense to laugh at black-clad teenagers... |
| Posted by: James 2005-06-10 10:55 |
| #4 Now you face jail for being nasty to Satanists (and Mooselimbs) Splitting hairs today, are we, phil? |
| Posted by: BH 2005-06-10 10:12 |
| #3 The words "profoundly misguided" come to mind when I heard of this legislation. What a mess! Put it in the context of a fully implemented EU and you could call it a disaster waiting to happen. Wonder if it still allows business as usual if your particular religion explicitly advocates multiple forms of violence against whole groups of people regardless of religion? How does that work in the case of the despised, "apostate" category, for whom Alan reserved special hatred? |
| Posted by: Tkat 2005-06-10 09:25 |
| #2 I guess they Europeans were unhappy when they abolished the ol' heresey laws and decided to bring them all back. I guess they feel they have moved forward by applying an equal opportunity clause. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-10 07:13 |
| #1 Hastily drafted legislation to counter the 'fire and brimstone' mullahs like Abu Hamza and Omar Bhakri Mohammed. Whilst it may deter such lunatics it is widely expected that the Muslim community will be the main benefactors of the legislation - using it to stifle any criticisms of their faith. This legislation will do much to stir racial tensions in the UK - if extremist Muslims don't get their way in court some crazed Mullah will simply pronounce a fatwah. I'm also sure that extremist Christians will ensure we don't see films like The Life of Brian or TV series like Blackadder being shown. Shame. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2005-06-10 06:00 |