Offence and Religious Hatred

We support protection of vulnerable people and minority religious groups, as long as legitimate criticism of religions and religious practices are fully protected in law. The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 came into force on 16th February 2006. This Act makes provision about offences involving stirring up hatred against persons on religious grounds.  Inciting violence against people was already illegal – what is now also illegal is to incite others to hate people, on the basis of their religious beliefs – or their lack of religious beliefs.

However, there is a very important section in the Act, which the BHA welcomes, which states:

Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.

This makes it clear that the law is not intended to protect beliefs, but to protect people. Although the law protects people, the campaign must continue to ensure that there is no new law, and that the Act is not used, to protect religions, religious beliefs and religious doctrine from criticism.

What are we doing?

We lobbied for a number of years on the various stages of Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. Since the Religious Offences Bill was introduced in 2002, until it finally became the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, the BHA gave written and oral evidence to parliament on incitement to religious hatred, wrote briefings and sent out press releases.

Now we monitor any activity under the new law to ensure that it is not misused.

What you can do

Let us know of any attempts you hear of to use the law, or the threat of the law, to censor legitimate criticisms of religious or non-religious beliefs or practices.

You can support the BHA by becoming a member.  That helps in itself, and you can help even more by supporting our campaigns in the ways suggested above.  But campaigns also cost money – quite a lot of money – and we also need financial support.  You can make a donation to the BHA.