Memorandum submitted by Dominic Statham (CJ&I 164)

Dear Members of the Committee,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, making incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexuality a criminal offence.

My concern is that Christians (and presumably others too) are beginning to live in a state of fear about this issue.  As a Christian myself, I do not believe anyone should hate anyone else, but I do believe we should all be free to express our views on what we understand to be right and wrong.  Increasingly, people are not allowed to do this when it comes to sexual morality.  This is a serious blow to free speech, which must be retained if we are to think rightly and make right laws in the future.

There are already laws in place protecting everyone (including homosexuals) against threatening behaviour.  I don't believe we need special laws for this particular group, especially if it results in a climate of fear and loss of free speech, which, it seems to me, has already happened.

November 2007