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Proceeding contribution from David Davis (Conservative) 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

The overlap between that legislation and this Bill is enormous. Amir Butler found that after Muslims brought a case against a Christian organisation, Muslim festivals and meetings were regularly attended by Christian evangelist groups attempting to find breaches of the law—this sort of legislation will encourage that sort of thing. The outcome in Australia was an unintended consequence of the legislation and it has forced Amir Butler, who was a major proponent of those laws, to oppose them. As he now says:"““The real key to social cohesion is honest dialogue. A dialogue, unfettered by political correctness, that is based on recognition that we have different ideas.””" The Bill undermines the religious freedoms that it is intended to protect.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
435 c688 
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