Open Letter to Keith Vaz regarding blasphemy law for the UK
Dear Mr Vaz, I write to express deep disappointment at your support for blasphemy laws to be re-introduced to the UK. I write this as an open letter to encourage clarity on the matter. It is outrageous that someone, as senior within the Labour party as yourself, would put forward the outdated, regressive, and oppressive concept that faith and belief need legal protection. They do not. These ideas must be subject to as rigorous questioning, criticism, ridicule and offensive comment, as any other idea. Just because someone sincerely believes an idea does not give the person nor the idea any special privilege in being immune from normal human interaction, even if offensive criticism is offered. The line we draw, and it is a reasonable one, is that we do not permit the incitement of hatred nor violence. Everything else must remain within the law. It is the duty of everyone to be prepared to take offence on the chin rather than demand special privilege to avoid facing ...