Evangelicals warn about proposed protections for other faiths
-11/04/05
The Evangelical Alliance is warning its supporters that the incitement to religious hatred clauses dropped by the Government from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill could be reintroduced in the next Parliament if Labour wins the impending general election.
Many Christians and Christian groups including the Methodist church however, concerned that some Evangelicals are simply protecting their privilege position in society whilst leaving other religions without protections, supported the measures and will be hoping that they are introduced again if Labour is returned to power on May 5th.
The Alliance in a coalition with other Christian groups and secular organisations, has consistently opposed the format and what its says is the likely effect of the proposed legislation, which it believes posed a threat to freedom of speech in the UK – specifically that Christians would be able to criticise other religions.
The Evangelical Alliance however has, along with other Christian groups, consistently resisted either extending or abolishing the blasphemy laws, which only protect the Christian faith.
Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs for the Evangelical Alliance said, “The coalition’s long-running campaign was all about preserving freedom of speech. It was encouraging to see not only the highly effective broad support from across the religious and secular spectrum, but also from all sides of the Houses of Commons and Lords, as well as a massive response from the public.
“The fact that the Government is now blaming the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats for blocking the legislation and promising to reintroduce a new law banning religious hatred, whilst the Muslim Council of Britain is encouraging its adherents to press election candidates to commit themselves to support the reintroduction of the measures, confirms the beliefs of many people that these potentially dangerous proposals were at least partly prompted by the forthcoming election.
Don Horrocks has previously suggested that Muslims should be less sensitive to criticism about their faith.