The Religious Hatred Bill has become the centre of controversy again as it makes its way through parliament. The bill if it comes into force would make it offence to use words or actions, including broadcasting that would be likely or intend to stir up religious hatred.
Already the laws in UK protect specifically the interests of Sikhs and Jews, but this protection will be extended to other faiths through the new proposals.
Much of the debate regarding the bill has been directed at the Muslim faith. In a recent BBC poll indications have arisen that there could be a vicious cycle in which many Muslims feel a sense of unfairness and feel discriminated against in society. This, it has been said, could be a reason they can become prey for others to drive them towards extremism. This process is one which the government is trying to break down by introducing the new religious law.
However, there has been an obvious decreasing enthusiasm for the religious hatred bill as being the answer to the problem, say the BBC.
In January, an ICM poll was carried out for the Guardian newspaper; this indicated that 57% of people agreed that new laws were "needed to stop those who want to stir up hatred against people of particular religious faiths."
In addition, only 36% of people in that poll said "people should be allowed to express their opinions freely, however hateful."
Yet in the days after the London bomb attacks the BBC has carried out a new poll on its website; finding that support for the legislation had fallen to 51% saying they agreed with the bill fulfilling the aim of "preventing abuse of inciting hatred of people because of their religions."
