CNS News reported yesterday that in Britain, Christians began three days of protest hoping to convince the House of Lords to defeat the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill passed by the House of Commons last July. A broad range of groups oppose the bill. Evangelical Christians are concerned about its impact on their freedom to share their faith or question the claims of other religions. Actors and comedians fear it will make mocking religious beliefs a crime. The bill outlaws any written material or public verbal comments "that are threatening, abusive or insulting [and] likely to stir up racial or religious hatred." Violations are punishable by a jail term of up to seven years. Existing race-hate laws provide protection to minorities on the basis of ethnicity, not religion. Jews and Sikhs are considered as ethnic as well as religious groups, and so enjoy legal protection. Muslims as a religious group, however, are not protected under current law.
In the House of Commons Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair defended the proposed law. His remarks are reported by ePolitix.
