The new blasphemy law – only gays and Muslims need complain
by Dr Campbell Campbell-Jack, The Conservative Woman:
The SNP government intends to abolish Scotland’s blasphemy law, introduced in 1690 and unused since 1843. The SNP’s ruling Council passed a motion arguing that abolishing the blasphemy law would give Scotland greater moral authority when speaking out against blasphemy laws elsewhere.
Vigorous opposition to blasphemy laws is necessary to protect freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Pakistan’s new ‘moderate’ prime minister, Imran Khan, has expressed a desire to see enacted a ‘universal blasphemy law’ enabling criticism of Mohammed and Islam anywhere in the world to be punished in accordance with sharia law.
The SNP would have an acceptable argument if it were not clear that, whilst eager to abolish its Christian blasphemy law, the Scottish government has in effect allowed a new blasphemy standard to emerge. Expressing disagreement with Islam or with political correctness and its results can land you in a Scottish court.
Scotland’s Christian street preachers are being targeted in an attempt to silence them. Activists ask them questions regarding Islam or LGBT rights, and wait eager to be offended. When the preachers repeat what the Bible says, no matter how respectfully, the activists have their feelings hurt, make a complaint to the police and the preachers are arrested.
Police Scotland now treat expression of disagreement with LGBT beliefs as a ‘hate crime’. Entirely peaceful street preachers have been arrested solely on grounds of a complaint, without any evidence supporting the complaint. Often the charges are either quietly dropped months later or dismissed out of hand in court. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of intimidation and attacks on freedom of speech have an inevitable gagging effect.
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