After Shocking Defeat for U.K. 'Hate' Bill, Debate Goes International

Conservative Christians in Britain are celebrating the unexpected defeat of the government’s Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, but continued concerns from Muslims are taking the debate over religious hatred and blasphemy laws international.

Despite an imposing majority of 67, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government accepted an embarrassing retreat as the House of Commons voted to back amendments introduced by House of Lords. Blair missed the final January 31 vote, which his government lost 283 to 282.

Blair’s government wanted to make it a criminal offense to incite religious hatred through threatening words, actions, and insults. But following a vigorous campaign by Christians and many others, including Mr. Bean comedian Rowan Atkinson, Blair’s Labor Party was forced to accept a watered-down version. The approved bill contains specific freedom-of-speech safeguards that ensure people can only be found guilty if they intend to stir up hatred. Many Christians had worried they would not be free to debate and evangelize, as those activities can offend.

Christian leaders who worked for years to defeat this bill exulted. “It was by [God’s] glory and grace that our months of prayer and petition were answered!” said Andrea Minichiello Williams, Lawyer’s Christian Fellowship public policy offer. “It is only the second time in nine years that Labor have lost a vote in the Commons. It was a vote that even the opposition Members of Parliament said could not be won. It is a vote which Christians knew, faithfully trusting in God’s sovereignty, could always be won.”

Conservative Christians in Britain have not recently engaged the political process with the unity and fervor that characterized much opposition to the Race and Religious Hatred Bill. In October 2005, a coalition of about 2,000 people representing more than 100 groups gathered in Parliament Square to protest the government’s proposals.

“A new political constituency has been awakened, and this is going to make an impact on the political scene,” Williams said. “We must now build on what we have achieved. We may have won a battle, but the war continues. Having said that, we have the potential to reshape the nation and the political landscape in ways that are worthy of the kingdom of God.”

Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, added, “From a human point of view, I am absolutely certain that it was the lobbying by the individual Christians of their MPs which was the most decisive factor of all. Many supporters have told us how they went to see their MP in trepidation! Yet their courage has been honored.”

Don Horrocks, head of public affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, said he does not expect any unintended consequences from the bill. “But I am sure that people will not find themselves so readily visited or stopped by the police or charged, as they almost certainly would have been under the government’s proposals,” Horrocks said. “[Religious believers] will be protected by this bill, and those who want to stir up hatred against them will be caught by it.”

But the fight in Britain may presage an even bigger battle internationally. Pressure has increased on Britain and other European Union countries to amend their anti-blasphemy laws to include greater protections for Islam. In 2004, the British government rejected an attempt to repeal the country’s blasphemy ban.

In the wake of unrest over caricatures of Muhammad in a Danish newspaper, Muslim groups have also pushed the United Nations to enact greater protection against religious hatred. In February, 56 member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference at the United Nations proposed an international blasphemy ban.

The amendment to a resolution drawing up a new Human Rights Council would “prevent instances of intolerance, discrimination, incitement of hatred and violence arising from any actions against religions, prophets and beliefs which threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The current draft of the resolution does not include this language, but has added a section saying that governments, organizations, religious bodies, and the media should promote “tolerance, respect for, and freedom of religion and belief.”