Even though the Bill has seen huge opposition from actors, comedians, a full range of religious groups and from political experts, it has already passed the House of Commons and is now just a step away from becoming British law.
The core opposition members of the bill have stated that the Bill has been badly drafted with obvious flaws in the wording – something that extremist groups will be sure to exploit and thereby threaten freedom of speech. It has also been argued that the proposals could even increase tensions in the already anxious atmosphere after the July London terrorist bombings.
However, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has stated that it will only punish extreme behaviour and will absolutely not prevent religious preaching or religion-focused comedy.
Rev Katei Kirby, the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) Chief Executive told, "It affects everyone so deeply. This is not just about doctrine. This is not even about theological opposition. This is about our basic freedom to speak and to preach.
"It affects people's freedom to discuss and to critique anything because it might upset or offend somebody else and that is very serious."Revealing the width of the opposition to the bill, the National Secular Society also took part in the demonstration. Vice-president Terry Sanderson said: "We are coming at it from a completely different angle from the Christians. They are looking at the restrictions on their right to evangelise. We are looking at the restrictions on our being about to criticise religion per se so we can make common cause with them on this.
"I think this is an indicator to the government of just how wide the opposition is,” Sanderson told the BBC.
Another leading campaigner against the proposed Religious Hatred law has been actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson.
The protest outside the Houses of Parliament has concluded a three-day protest organised by a Christian coalition involving the Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA), the Christian Party, in addition to the Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship (CLF), among many others.
On Saturday Oct. 8th, a hundreds also gathered at Hyde Park in Central London in the first day of the protest prayer rallies against the government’s new proposals.
