To not want blasphemy laws in the UK?

[Blueybanditbingochilli]

https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/24516089.sutton-man-61-chanted-who-f-allah-jailed/

Thug sentenced for violent disorder and threatening police, all good.

But the chanting? Maybe I’ve got the wrong end of the stick but I thought criticising religion, even crudely, is permitted in the UK and not a crime so long as it doesn’t stray into harassment or incitement of another crime.

Labour are allegedly considering new legislation around the extent to which people can criticise Islam.

AIBU to think people should have the right to criticise religion (even crudely), and that we should not revert to having blasphemy laws in the UK? I apply this to all religions, including my own, and not just Islam.

Probably much more to do with him calling Police Officers cunts, comforting them, and engaging in threatening behaviour.

we don’t have blasphemy laws in the Uk .

We do if his chanting was part of the court case and subsequent sentence, albeit unofficially.

Criticising religion is fine.

Aggression, harassment, and hate crime is not.

I wonder which category screaming "who the fuck is Allah" falls into? It's such a hard one to judge.

Was it though? Or was it part of the witness report that doesn't have anything to do with the charges?
Where is the source of your statement about Labour considering blasphemy laws?
He was charged with violence disorder. It takes 3 seconds to Google what it entails and none of it specifies criticising Islam.

That ship has sailed, OP.

Never mind, you can still say anything you like about Christianity, and people will laugh or shrug. So there’s a comfort.

"Labour are allegedly considering new legislation around the extent to which people can criticise Islam."

Just Islam? Seriously?

I think everything, everyone and anything should be open to considered criticism. So I wouldn't want curbs like that.
There are already plenty of laws for dealing with obnoxious pricks.

I can’t answer the poll because I actually think you’re being disingenuous rather than unreasonable.

He wasn't charged with blasphemy though. It's just all part of the aggressive behaviour he was exhibiting at the "protest".

You're trying to turn this into something it isn't. He was shouting lots of nasty racist shit in an aggressive manner.

Come off it OP, you think he was just "criticising" Islam? Like he was up for an intelligent debate or something? 🙄

Of course it’s crude and offensive and unintelligent. But then freedom of speech can be sometimes. To me it crosses the line if it is harassment (eg outside a Mosque as worshippers leave) or what is being said promotes a crime taking place (inciting violence and so on).

Cannot bring myself to look at what Labour is proposing.

Fuck all religions and medieval belief systems right back to the Middle Ages where they belong.

Can humans not evolve and develop their thinking, or do they positively thrive on division and oppression?

If so why were the "from the river to the see" chanters not convicted?

So going to a violent demonstration will qualify then, won't it? Threatening a police officer will qualify, won't it?
I'm still waiting for the source of your claim re Labour legislation plans.

Probably much more to do with him calling Police Officers cunts, comforting them, and engaging in threatening behaviour

^Excellent typo - or is this a new approach to confuse police?

Can you provide a link to a source re: Labour introducing laws to stop criticism of Islam please…

So, exactly what was happening here then.

If religion didn’t exist the world would be a better place tbh. But that aside…

Considering how often we harp on at other countries about the ‘importance of free speech’ etc, this just makes us look like hypocrites.

How can a man be arrested and jailed for a crime that doesn't yet exist?

If a man can be jailed for doing this without the existence of blasphemy laws, why do we need blasphemy laws? What is the need?

We clearly have other laws which are relevant and cover this ground sufficiently already.

Because nobody was convicted for chanting, full stop. The conviction is for violent offences. Here, I made it easy for people who can't (won't) use Google

There should be a law to protect people who are discriminated against if they follow a faith

There already is … it covers all beliefs, and is part of equalities legislation

There's already a law for discriminating against people because of their faith. Not simply if they follow a faith.

As I understand it, it's all to do with the definition of "Islamophobia" which equates criticism of Islam to racism. It could become law and is being described as a back door blasphemy law as it won't apply to Christianity (for example).

OP I agree that no religion should be more special than the other in law. If people can mock one, they can mock others.

WatchersOfTheKnight · Today 08:35
OP I agree that no religion should be more special than the other in law. If people can mock one, they can mock others.”

This. All religions are worthy of mockery.