by Patrick West, Spectator
Those who believe in free speech, and those who are particularly concerned by plans to have ‘Islamophobia’ codified, ought to be delighted. A judge has ruled that criticising Islam, or viewing the faith as problematic, is a protected belief under equalities law.
As reported in The Sunday Telegraph this morning, an employment tribunal judge has found that Patrick Lee, 61, who was found guilty of misconduct last April by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries over posts on X – including one calling the Prophet Mohammed a ‘monster’ – was merely ‘critical of certain Islamic doctrines and practices, and not to individual followers of Islam or to the Islamic faith/religion at large.’
Mr Lee has now won legal protection for his beliefs. It’s the first time a court has ruled that ‘Islamic-critical’ beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010. Previous claimants had been informed that such views were not ‘worthy of respect in a democracy’.
Those who believe in free speech ought to be to delighted. But they shouldn’t. While many will celebrate this verdict, it merely worsens matters in the wider scheme of things. It further entrenches the idea that the state can dictate what we can say – and even decide who we are.