Evangelicals across the UK this week have warned that if the government’s version of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill is passed by the House of Commons on Jan 31st, that there will be a clear negative impact for society and religion.
The Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) released the warning commenting on the “immense” negative implications that would arise should the Bill be passed.The reaction has come about after an announcement made by the government on Jan. 24th in the House of Lords, that it will seek to reverse the changes made recently by the Upper House of Parliament.
Specifically, the Evangelical Alliance has issued the stark warning that a return to the previous Racial and Religious Hatred Bill proposals “poses a major threat”.
The Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, Dr Don Horrocks said, “Our previous relative relief that the Lords had delivered a workable and less extreme Bill that still met the Labour Government’s manifesto commitment to criminalise incitement to religious hatred has now turned to alarm.
“The fact is that unless all the opposition parties and significant numbers of Labour MPs vote against the Government’s insistence that it will reintroduce its original proposals, under the guise of major concessions, we are likely to see the onset of an era in which freedom of speech and good relationships between religions will be threatened.”
He continued, “If the Government’s version of the Bill goes through, whatever it says about proof of intent or recklessness being necessary for prosecution for incitement to religious hatred, the practical effect will be to inhibit free speech and writing in such a way that people will worry about saying anything critical of religion. This goes way beyond what the Lords deemed appropriate for a sensible balance between inciteful behaviour and civil liberties.”In October 2005, the Evangelical Alliance and CARE, the Christian social concern charity, celebrated following the defeat of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill in the House of Lords Oct. 25th. Christians, religious groups as well as comedians also rejoiced as the government’s proposed Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was overwhelmingly defeated.
