Pussy Riot

The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which creates an offence in England and Wales of inciting hatred against a person on the grounds of their religion. I railed against it in 2005 (see Icons passim) and I still think it is an absurd piece of legislation.

The bill contains wording to amend the Public Order Act 1986:

• Section 29A
  • Meaning of "religious hatred"
    • In this Part "religious hatred" means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief.

• Section 29B:
  • (1) A person who uses threatening words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up religious hatred.

Do you really think that if you stormed a mosque, synagogue or church in dear old Blighty disguised in a balaclava and chanting "Crap, crap, this godliness crap! Crap, crap, this holiness crap!" that you wouldn't have your collar felt?

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" as someone once wondered.