The Muslim News - Outlawing incitement to religious hatred would court controversy

Issue 170, Friday 27 June 2003 - 26 Rabi' al-Akhar 1424

Outlawing incitement to religious hatred would court controversy

By Ahmed J Versi

An all-party committee of peers warned in its report on Religious Offences that outlawing incitement to religious hatred and amending other legislations relating to religious offences would be a “threat to freedom of expression”.
The House of Lords Select Committee was appointed to look into reforming religious offences in May 2002. They were looking into whether existing religious offences (notably blasphemy) be amended or abolished and should a new criminal offence of incitement to religious hatred be created. The latter was proposed by the Government in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill in 2001 and was revived in the Religious Offences Bill (Private Member’s Bill) in 2002.
However, after taking oral evidence from a broad range of official and public opinion, the peers concluded that any attempt to alter existing legislation is “likely to be controversial”.
Viscount Colville of Culross, the Chairman of the inquiry, said: “The introduction of a Bill to deal with any, or all of these issues is likely to run into profound controversy, despite the pressure to take action on incitement to religious hatred.”
The Muslim community is disappointed with the result of the Report. Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Iqbal Sacranie, told The Muslim News: “We are greatly disappointed with the outcome of the Report.
Overwhelming evidence was provided which confirmed that the evil of Islamophobia is now broadly acknowledged as a pervasive and negative force in the society.” He added that attacks and abuse against Muslims is “now a regular occurrence” and that the Government “can no longer ignore the reality of fear and hatred against Muslim citizens”.

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