Mark Pack

New attempt to abolish blasphemy laws

By | Tue 8th January 2008 - 7:35 am

A cross party initiative by Evan Harris (Lib Dem), Frank Dobson (Labour) and David Wilshire (Conservative) has won the backing of Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury:

Lord Carey argues that the existing legal protections for Anglican Christianity are outdated and should be abolished. The move, supported by a former bishop as well as writers, academics, campaigners and comedians, comes in the wake of the diplomatic row over Sudan’s jailing of a British teacher who blasphemed against Islam.
   
Gillian Gibbons was jailed after allowing schoolchildren to name a teddybear after the prophet Mohammed. She was later pardoned after diplomatic protests from Britain.

In the Commons tomorrow, MPs will debate an amendment to the current Criminal Justice Bill that would effectively abolish existing legal protections for Anglican Christianity…

They argue that the blasphemy law “serves no useful purpose” and offers Christian activists a means to intimidate broadcasters, publishers and performers.

From The Telegraph.

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