Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Evan Harris (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 21 June 2005. It occurred during Debate on bill on Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.


Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

I hope that we will have a chance later in the debate to return to blasphemy. Does the Home Secretary accept that the Bill will have a chilling effect and that the stop point of the Attorney-General is no consolation to those who have been arrested or questioned by the police? Let me give an example for argument’s sake. If a group of fundamentalist Christians are spreading vilification and humiliation against gay people—I notice that they do not have the protection that the Home Secretary is extending to those who follow a religion—and I were to say outside the House that those Christian bigots should be despised and, indeed, hated for their views, can he guarantee that I would not be visited by the police and questioned, let alone reach the stage where the Attorney-General decides, for the convenience of the Government, to let me off?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
435 c680 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Incitement Racial violence Racially aggravated offences Religion Religious hatred Religious freedom Religiously aggravated offences Racial hatred
Legislation
Racial and Religious Hatred Bill (HL) 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk