Race Relations Chief Backs Modernisation of Blasphemy Laws

Last weekend, the screening on BBC2 of Jerry Springer - The Opera, prompted a record 50,000 complaints from outraged viewers and various Christian groups who objected to the programme’s offensive material and ridicule of Jesus Christ. Public protests outside the broadcaster’s headquarters and threats towards TV executives have increased the tension amid attempts by offended Christian organisations to use blasphemy laws to prosecute the BBC for broadcasting the opera.

Yesterday Trevor Phillips, Chairman of The Commission for Racial Equality, addressed an audience of MPs and peers - proposing that legislation against ‘inciting religious hatred’, should be accompanied by the scrapping of all defunct and divisive blasphemy laws.

Although this more liberal approach and softening of contemporary blasphemy laws, has been recently criticised by writers, comedians and civil liberty organisations as ‘potentially restricting the freedom of speech’ the Commission for Racial Equality still strongly supports the Bill.

In response to parliamentary calls for the abolition of ancient blasphemy laws which make attacks on Christianity an offence, Mr Phillis emphasised "Christians, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs should be protected against ridicule and being objects of hate-crimes. Our laws must protect the believer (not the belief itself). Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism are robust enough religions to fight for themselves. In short, GOD does not need the Lord Chancellor to be His bodyguard..."

However, in November 2004, Home Office minister, Fiona MacTaggart made the government’s position very clear that it did not plan to give all religions equal protection under blasphemy laws. She commented on BBC Radio 4, "At the moment we have got no plans to deal with blasphemy." The new law "is not about what you say about faith. It is about whether you incite hatred of people on the basis of their faith."