Select Committee on Religious Offences in England and Wales, v. 1 - Report (Paperback)

In May 2002, the House of Lords appointed a Select Committee to consider whether existing common law offences, such as blasphemy and blasphemous libel, should be amended or abolished; and whether a new criminal offence of incitement to religious hatred should be created. This discussion followed the proposals tabled in the private member's bill "Religious Offences Bill" (HLB 39, session 2001-02; ISBN 0108402150), which sought to introduce a new offence of incitement to religious hatred previously dropped from the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This wide-ranging report examines these issues, as well as current socio-religious trends in contemporary Britain and the development of a multi-faith society. It discusses options for common and criminal law reforms, as well as issues such as hate crime and aggravation. The Committee supports the rights under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and concludes that there is a gap in the law as its stands. Although there is no consensus amongst the Committee's members with regards to additional legal protections, it is agreed that the civil and criminal law should give the same protection to people of all faiths, and of none.