In a victory for free speech that will no doubt be welcomed by all those who opposed the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, BNP leader Nick Griffin and his sidekick have been acquitted of inciting hatred against Muslims.
Author Archives: Bob Pitt
Those blasted cartoons
Osama Saeed offers a nuanced and reasoned response to the controversy over the Danish cartoon controversy. His post included links to comments by Yusuf Smith and other Muslim bloggers.
Racial and Religious Hatred Bill – roll of shame
In the decisive vote last night, the government’s proposal to reject the Lords amendment to the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was lost by 282 votes to 283. According to the Times, these are the Labour MPs who voted against the government:
Joe Benton (Bootle)
Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley)
Colin Challen (Morley & Rothwell)
Frank Cook (Stockton North)
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North)
Bill Etherington (Sunderland North)
Mark Fisher (Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Paul Flynn (Newport West)
Ian Gibson (Norwich North)
John Grogan (Selby)
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall)
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North)
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington)
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)
Robert Marshall-Andrews (Medway)
Gordon Prentice (Pendle)
Geraldine Smith (Morecambe & Lunesdale)
David Taylor (Leicestershire North West)
Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green)
Robert Wareing (Liverpool West Derby)
Tony Wright (Cannock Chase)
‘Humiliating’ attack on London mayor in pro-imperialist US magazine
“Bad news for London’s Mayor: he has a humiliating cameo role in the latest issue of America’s most venerable Left-wing journal, Dissent. In an illuminating account of how the remnants of the radical Left in Britain have aligned themselves with fundamentalist Muslims, it mentions Ken Livingstone’s embrace of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Qatar-based cleric who supports homophobia, suicide-bombers in Palestine and the subordination of women. For the benefit of American readers who haven’t heard of Livingstone, the author describes him as ‘Galloway-lite’. Even before Celebrity Big Brother, this would have been pretty rude. Since the recent televised shenanigans, it is surely the most wounding insult in the political lexicon.”
Francis Wheen writes in the Evening Standard, 31 January 2006
Good for Dobbo
MPs supportive of the government during the Commons debate on the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill included Frank Dobson who said:
“I do not believe that anyone – Rowan Atkinson or anyone else – needs the right to incite hatred against someone because of their religion. He has apparently said that we should look at things from the point of view of the comedian. Other people in the world are just as important as comedians. Muslim women who have been assaulted, abused and spat on for wearing the hijab are as important to me as Rowan Atkinson, for all his sense of humour.”
Not so sure I agree with you about Rowan Atkinson’s sense of humour, Frank, but otherwise – spot on.
“Danish cartoons enrage the Arab world, a German immigrant test singles out Muslims and opposition grows to admit Turkey and its 70 million Muslims into the European Union – a ghost is haunting Europe, the ghost of Islamophobia. At least that’s what Islamic organizations across the continent say. Does Europe face a clash of cultures?”
Muslim terrorists organising in British prisons, Mad Mel claims
Quoting a Daily Mirror article, Melanie Phillips tells us “this is what’s going on in Belmarsh prison where a number of Muslim Brotherhood terror suspects are being held”:
“Violent Islamic extremists are terrorising inmates at Britain’s toughest jail with an iron fist as they trawl for al-Qaeda recruits. The gang of thugs – known as The Muslim Boys – intimidate frightened inmates at Belmarsh into joining their faith, beating those who refuse their bullying demands. Some bloodied victims have been slashed by razor blades attached to toothbrushes. Others have had boiling water hurled over them. Prisoners say they are in fear for their lives.”
Melanie Phillips’s Diary, 31 January 2006
Er … except that the Muslim Boys have nothing to do with the Muslim Brotherhood. They’re a criminal gang based in South London. But, what the heck, they both have the word “Muslim” in their name, so there can’t be that much difference can there, Mel? And it goes without saying that they all have links to al-Qaeda.
Religious hatred law perpetuates inequality after Commons vote
“Unfortunately, the misinformation and mischief making from popular comedians and some influential sections of the media, supported by certain political groups, has led Parliament to continue to sanction a wholly unjustifiable hierarchy of rights among British citizens. Freedom of expression and speech was never threatened under the incitement to racial hatred laws nor was it to be threatened under the proposed law. This situation is now not only unjust but makes the work of all those engaged in promoting a cohesive and harmonious society in Britain all the more difficult.”
Merrill Lynch withdraws support of London University event
Merrill Lynch has pulled its sponsorship from an event entitled “the Palestinian Elections and their Consequences” at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies discussing the Palestinian elections because of the participation of Hamas supporter Azzam Tamimi.
Jerusalem Post, 31 January 2006
For Azzam Tamimi’s actual position on Hamas, see the Guardian, 30 January 2006
Government defeated on religious hatred bill
The government has suffered two shock defeats over attempts to overturn Lords changes to the controversial Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.
In a blow to Tony Blair’s authority MPs voted by 288 votes to 278 to back a key Lords amendment to the bill. Analysis of the division list showed the prime minister voted in the first division but not in the second, which was lost by one vote.
Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve said the defeats were “a victory for Parliament”. He branded the bill a “foolish manifesto commitment” introduced to “appease” some minority groups [read: “Muslims”], and which had “threatened freedom of speech”.
Mr Grieve said in multicultural Britain people had to accept that freedom of speech may mean people could be offensive to them, as well as vice versa. He said: “This (bill) was completely contrary to our national tradition of free speech.”
No doubt the fascists will be cheering. The acceptance of the Lords amendment means that it will be virtually impossible to mount a successful prosecution for inciting religious hatred. All the BNP needs is an acquittal at Leeds Crown Court, and it will be able to celebrate a double triumph.