Conservatives back Religious Discrimination Laws

The Shadow Attorney General, Dominic Grieve expressed the Conservative party’s support for religious discrimination laws which are expected to be announced this week.

The Conservative leader, Michael Howard, said on Friday that Islamophobia had increased significantly across Britain after the September 11th attacks in the USA, and that his party was now sympathetic to plans which would make religious discrimination an offence.

Last week in the Queen’s speech, it was announced that a Bill would be introduced in the upcoming Parliamentary session to deal with discrimination in the provision of services and goods on the grounds of religion, as well as race, sex and disability.

In addition, it was said that a new single Commission for Equality and Human Rights would be established.

The Conservative Party also stated, “Whilst religious discrimination is already covered in the Human Rights Act, we are sympathetic that it should have its own legislation as long as proper safeguards exist for the activities of faith groups.”

Howard said, Many Asians, not just Muslims, but also Hindus and Sikhs, got caught in the downdraft of Islamophobia which was one of the terrible side effects of 9/11. Whole communities have been attacked and demonised because of...a few evil men.”

Howard’s call came as he was standing on behalf of Saveeda Warsi, who is the first Bristish Muslim woman to be selected to fight for a parliamentary seat for the Conservative party.

Many religious groups, however, have expressed their anxiety towards the new proposals. Some church organisations such as the Evangelical Alliance have stated that they are highly concerned that anti-religious hatred laws may result in their freedom of speech being limited.