By Olusola O. Muhammad
18/12/04 18:01

David Blunkett wants to ban God and was behind the introduction of a new law - 'incitement to religious hatred' which is contained within The Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill.  The law, when enacted will grant the courts the right to imprison anyone who quotes from religious texts; Bible, Holy Qur'an or others, if such quotes from religious texts appears "threatening, abusive or insulting." If anyone is found guilty of such an offence the person can be imprisoned for seven years.

Speaking during a 'House of Commons' debate on the The Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill (SOCB), David Blunkett said, "It is possible to quote or misquote passages of sacred texts out of context so that they become threatening, abusive or insulting and intended or likely to stir up hatred and Such activities would rightly be caught by the scope of the offence."

Arguing against the planned legislation has come from a cross-party of MP's, human rights organizations and comedians. Responding to Members of Parliament David Blunkett reassured them that "telling jokes about religion, criticising beliefs or trying to covert people to a different faith" would not be caught up in the Law's net.

An attempt was made to include 'Incitement to Religious Hatred' as part of the 'Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill' 2001/2003, but it was rejected because of fierce opposition to the intended legislation and particularly at a time just after September 11, 2001. The bill was re-introduced by Lord Avebury in a private Member's bill in the House of Lords under the Religious Offences Bill 2001 and is now being championed by the Home Secretary.

Existing legislation, according to a 'Research Paper' on the intended legislation, is already covered by the Public Order Act 1986 (POA) which details a number of offences relating to, but not specific to 'Incitement to racial hatred' making Clause 119 and Schedule 10 of the new bill serious cause for concern.

The Public Order Act currently protects Sikhs and Jews, who have been held to be 'racial' groups and therefore already covered by the provisions of the Act. A request for Judicial review to have Muslims classified under the same provisions afforded Jews and sikhs has been declined - "such a declaration [if granted] would not be binding on the Criminal Courts".

With legislation already affording the protection of Jews and Sikhs why are Lord Avebury and the Home Secretary determined to see this law enacted? What texts in the religious books of 'Jews', Muslims and Christians can be quoted that will incite religious hatred? Are the words of God regardless to religious text not true and if quotes are recited from these books why would such truth 'offend' or be a cause for 'Incitement to Religious Hatred'?

In the words of Liberty, the human rights Organisation, "The Government would be wise to look to their own rhetoric and discriminatory and unjust policies before passing further criminal law&and if the Home Office really seeks to address this specific problem by way of criminal statutory amendment, it should first consider small amendments to the existing race hatred offences..."

Likewise, the government should focus on laws that protect the recipients of an endemic institutionalized racist system of government, law and media practice that denies black people their human rights and should retrospectively put in place 'reparations' to be paid by those who did use 'Incitement to Religious Hatred' to cause the greatest and most heinous of crimes in the annuals of human history - the enslavement of African people.

At the time of writing this article the new Home Secretary, Charles Clarke has taken over where 'Blunkett' left off and is expected to carry the 'baton' of pushing through the governments 'Law and Order' strategy.