Memorandum submitted by Christopher Dodd (CJ&I 49)

 

Dear Members of the Committee

 

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'

 

SUBMISSIONS

 

1. This is a free speech issue: the law should permit the voicing of opinions with which many or even most people would strongly disagree or even find offensive. This principle is one of our most important defences against tyranny. "I disagree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it." is a principle under attack at the moment and ought to be strengthened not undermined.

 

2. This is a further step towards thought-crime. "Hating" anything should not be a crime if the hater takes no action against the object of his hatred.

 

3. This law will render the expression of orthodox Christian doctrine a criminal offence.

 

4. This law is unnecessary. There is no great benefit to counterbalance the harms outlined above. Threatening or offensive words or behaviour are already a criminal offence.

 

 Thank you for taking the time to read this,

 

October 2007