Evangelicals express alarm over violence leading to controversial play closure
-23/12/04
Evangelicals express alarm over violence leading to controversial play closure
-23/12/04
Evangelicals have expressed ‘alarm’ that a play in Birmingham has closed due to the actions of a violent minority.
Birmingham Repertory theatre had to cancel the production of Behzti – which means dishonour in Punjabi – after several hundred people tried to disrupt the production.
The Evangelical Alliance has followed bishops in saying it was sympathetic to those in the Sikh community who had been outraged by what they consider to be an offensive production at the Repertory Theatre.
But the Alliance said it was worried that it could signal a restriction of free expression – especially if proposed Government legislation comes into being.
Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, recently told a House of Commons committee that other faith groups should be less sensitive to criticism about their faith.
Speaking about the cancellation of the production by actress-turned-playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti – herself a Sikh – he said; “There is no doubt that with artistic freedom there should come responsibility. It is not acceptable to cloak religious provocation and insult under the guise of artistic license – that would amount to a form of ‘religious fundamentalism’ in itself.
“On the other hand, the correct response to provocation should not be coercive censorship. In this country we have the freedom to express ideas, many of them controversial, which is a precious liberty that should be preserved. Peaceful protest and challenge, combined with boycotting and critique is the most acceptable way to express opposition.”
He continued: “It would be interesting to discover on religious grounds whether this play would fall foul of the Government’s new anti-hate legislation, incorporated in the Serious Organised Crime and Disorder Bill. Lack of clarity on this Bill means at the moment we don’t know for sure. We remain concerned that by highlighting some kind of right not to be offended the price paid will be too costly in terms of loss of freedom of speech and heightened tensions between communities.”
The Evangelical Alliance has previously expressed its opposition to the proposed legislation.
Evangelicals express alarm over violence leading to controversial play closure
-23/12/04
Evangelicals have expressed ‘alarm’ that a play in Birmingham has closed due to the actions of a violent minority.
Birmingham Repertory theatre had to cancel the production of Behzti – which means dishonour in Punjabi – after several hundred people tried to disrupt the production.
The Evangelical Alliance has followed bishops in saying it was sympathetic to those in the Sikh community who had been outraged by what they consider to be an offensive production at the Repertory Theatre.
But the Alliance said it was worried that it could signal a restriction of free expression – especially if proposed Government legislation comes into being.
Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, recently told a House of Commons committee that other faith groups should be less sensitive to criticism about their faith.
Speaking about the cancellation of the production by actress-turned-playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti – herself a Sikh – he said; “There is no doubt that with artistic freedom there should come responsibility. It is not acceptable to cloak religious provocation and insult under the guise of artistic license – that would amount to a form of ‘religious fundamentalism’ in itself.
“On the other hand, the correct response to provocation should not be coercive censorship. In this country we have the freedom to express ideas, many of them controversial, which is a precious liberty that should be preserved. Peaceful protest and challenge, combined with boycotting and critique is the most acceptable way to express opposition.”
He continued: “It would be interesting to discover on religious grounds whether this play would fall foul of the Government’s new anti-hate legislation, incorporated in the Serious Organised Crime and Disorder Bill. Lack of clarity on this Bill means at the moment we don’t know for sure. We remain concerned that by highlighting some kind of right not to be offended the price paid will be too costly in terms of loss of freedom of speech and heightened tensions between communities.”
The Evangelical Alliance has previously expressed its opposition to the proposed legislation.