Memorandum submitted by Phil Endersby (CJ&I 202)

 

I am writing to express my concern about the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which would make it a criminal offence to 'incite hatred on the grounds of sexuality'.

The Bible and other religious texts include teachings on sexual behaviour which some groups may find offensive and hurtful. It is essential that we protect the freedom of orthodox adherents to a particular established belief to express their views. If this law is introduced, it will be used to try and silence the people who teach the morality of the Bible. People will believe that this law outlaws free speech in this area, even if this is not the case. We have already seen well-publicised examples of the police misunderstanding similar areas of law, and subsequently having to make a public apology. If the police are confused then surely this law will serve to create confusion in the general public, which will lead to far more hatred than if the law did not exist.

Other laws adequately protect the rights of individuals from threatening behaviour etc., so this law is unnecessary, and appears to have been proposed for political rather than practical or legal reasons.

October 2007