Olympic medallist Louis Smith banned for 'mocking Islam'

[WalrusGumboot]

m.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/37832754

I find this extremely worrying. I hope the ban is overturned. Freedom of speech should be defended and I think it's shameful that British Gymnastics are not being more supportive of Louis.

There's nothing cowardly about criticising religion.

Yes- I was wondering about "cowardly" too........

Louis was on warning for previous misbehaviour apparently for arguing with his coach and being rude to a fellow competitior at the olympics.

This has nothing to do with 'mocking' Islam, it's a very convenient excuse as his behaviour was becoming more erratic.

Of course it has

If the video was mocking Catholicism it wouldn't be news it wouldn't be discussed and there wouldn't be a reason to ban him as it's considered ok to mock the catholic religion

"If the video was mocking Catholicism it wouldn't be news it wouldn't be discussed and there wouldn't be a reason to ban him as it's considered ok to mock the catholic religion"

Why do you think this? Could you give some examples?

Those of you who are critical of British gymnastics or defending Louis need to see the video of what exactly happen.

They were in a hotel and one of them took the mat of the wall. Infact later in the clip there is a woman in a smart green dress who looks like she is trying to stop him from pretending to pray. Its not clear who she is, but she does say "you're not funny". The pair of them were lucky not to get kicked out the hotel.

It's irrelevant that there is often similar behaviours at wedding receptions and stag dos across the country. Louis Smith is funded to be a full time gymnast and with that privilage comes responsibility.

If you are going to be a drunken prat then don't film it or upload it to the Internet.

One of the most awarded and popular sitcoms of the last twenty years trashed the catholic faith - Father Ted

It's irrelevant that it was written by comedic script writers as it will still be offensive to some

Islam shouldn't be off limits and this is just supporting that it is

So what sportsmen/woman are not always perfect human beings and are cocky, arrogant, stupid we shouldn't be putting them up on such high pedestals they are human. If this has happened during the olympics or another sporting event where they are representing the country it would be different but it wasn't it was in their own time

I think many people video things they regret being foolish is a human trait everyone shows at some point though not sure who uploaded the video put we know it was published as it would cause a sensation

Oh, for crying out loud.

You're comparing Father Ted (which every Catholic I have ever met find funny- and which does not "trash" the Catholic faith) with two drunken louts being unfunnily racist?

You said that in similar circumstances Smith and his mate would net have been banned had they been mocking Catholicism. Can you support that statement?

No I am not comparing Father Ted to what they did

I said and it is quite clear that either mocking religion is fair game or it is not regardless of clever (to some) script writers of friends being foolish

and Father Ted was seen by some to be offensive, Dave Allen was considered very offensive other found him very funny

It just wouldn't be news if they were to pretend one was a priest and the other was taking holy communion we wouldn't hear about it as it wouldn't be controversial as this shouldn't be

You said that they wouldn't have been banned if they had mocked Catholicism.

I asked for some evidence. You can't give any. You're just doing the knee jerk "Oh, Christianity is fair game" riff that people trot out.

And incidentally, have you seen Citizen Kumar, Goodness Gracious Me, or seen Asian Network standup at the Apollo?

'I asked for some evidence.'

Oh for goodness sakes Bertrand - Christians and Catholic practices have been mocked for years. You never hear of a sportsman getting punished for mocking a Christian. That would sound ludicrous!

Mmm well it is

Cartoons of the Christian prophet are printed in our papers

They are not of the prophet of Islam

And good for the comedians if they are satirising religion

I find GGM and CK amusing at times I think it's more about culture than religion

I don't think anyone is saying Asians and Muslims do not have a sense of humour and I wouldnt say that they should or shouldn't be offended but that religion isn't above being pulled apart ridiculed and mocked by whoever wants to

"You never hear of a sportsman getting punished for mocking a Christian"

Have you heard of a sportsman not getting punished for mocking a Christian?

'Have you heard of a sportsman not getting punished for mocking a Christian?'

Bertrand - nobody cares if a sportsman mocks a Christian. It's just life.

"Bertrand - nobody cares if a sportsman mocks a Christian. It's just life."

So it happens lots?

Because people have said categorically that if Smith and his friends had been filmed -oh, I don't know- drawing a moustache on the image of Jesus over an altar or something- they wouldn't have been punished.

'So it happens lots?'

Would it be news worthy? I doubt it.

Christians and their beliefs and practices get criticised. It's just part of life as we know it. It's a given.

I think the most important issue arising from all this is the fact he received death threats. Rightminded people should be most concerned about the people who feel they can do that being tracked down and the police should deal with those really nasty people. Everything else pales beside that.

Drawing on an image that is over an alter in a church would be vandalism

Drawing a picture of Jesus standing over an alter isn't a crime

"Christians and their beliefs and practices get criticised. It's just part of life as we know it. It's a given."

Examples, please.

Life of Brian does a good job of taking the p*ss.

Altar .....

So going back a bit did the men actually use the term " Asians"?