The definition of “religious hatred” in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill” has been drafted in order to achieve a degree of ideological neutrality:
“religious hatred” means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief.”
It clearly would cover any incitement of hatred by the religious against its heretics, apostates, or members of other faiths.
However, it would not cover the incitement of hatred by the religious against cultural groups defined in a non-religious (or “non-racial”) fashion.
Like gays, for example.
So a religious minister who tells his congregation that “God Hates Fags” has nothing to fear. Leviticus and St Paul won’t become samizdat literature. Islamic clerics can continue to debate whether god prefers the execution of homosexuals by throwing them off walls, or collapsing walls on them.
But if a gay campaigner were to suggest that it was appropriate to hate these hatemongers, they’d risk prosecution.
Isn’t this a hopelessly misconceived piece of legislation?
