Evangelical Alliance warns return to previous Racial and Religious Hatred Bill proposals poses major threat

We urge you to contact your MP

25 January 2006

The Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) today warned that if the Government’s version of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill is passed by the House of Commons on the 31 January the negative implications for society and religion will be immense. This reaction comes following the announcement by the Government on 24th January, in the House of Lords, that they will seek to reverse the recent changes made by the Lords.

Dr Don Horrocks, Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, 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 added, “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.”

The Evangelical Alliance and ACEA is encouraging everyone who wishes to see freedom of speech preserved to contact their MP before next Tuesday as a matter of urgency. There will also be a rally of those committed to preserving free speech on Tuesday 31st January from 1pm to 4pm at Old Palace Yard (opposite the Peer’s Gate). The Alliance also encourages Christian churches throughout the UK to take the Sunday preceding the rally to pray as congregations about the issues relating to the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.