Category: News
Date: 18.07.2005
Printable version
Public opinion is divided over controversial plans to
ban incitement to religious hatred, according to an ICM poll for the
BBC News website.
The poll, taken in the days following the London bombings,
found 51 per cent in favour of such a move but 44 per cent against.
The proposed new law is meant to protect people of
all faiths from abuse but critics say it curbs free speech. The
BBC poll found people who belonged to a religion were almost as likely
to be against it as those with no beliefs.
The survey was commissioned as part of a BBC News website
series on faith in the UK.
The survey suggests that:
On religious hatred, 51 per cent supported legislation "aimed at preventing
abuse or inciting hatred of people because of their religion".
But 44 per cent thought "stopping people from criticising those with
other religious beliefs is an unjustified limit on free speech".
Among people belonging to religions, including Christians, Muslims,
Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and other faith groups, 43 per cent were opposed
to a ban, compared to 44 per cent of people with no religion.
In January, an ICM poll suggested stronger public support
for incitement to religious hatred laws. The poll showed 57 per cent
agreeing a ban was "needed to stop those who want to stir up hatred
against people of particular religious faiths".
It found that 36 per cent said the new law was "wrong
because people should be allowed to express their opinions freely, however
hateful".
The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill would create a
new offence of incitement to religious hatred and would apply to comments
made in public or in the media, as well as through written material.
The aim is to protect people from incitement of hatred
against them because of their faith.
But ministers say it will not ban people - including
artists and performers - from offending, criticising or ridiculing faiths.
Peers are debating it this month after it was narrowly
voted through by MPs. Additionally, 61 per cent of people believe Britain's
laws should respect religious values, with just 33 per cent disagreeing.
The BBC/ICM poll of 1005 people was conducted between
8 and 11 July this year by telephone.
Notes to Editors
ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,005 adults
aged 18+ by telephone between 8 and 11 July 2005.
Interviews were conducted across the country and the
results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides
by its rules. Further information is available at www.icmresearch.co.uk.
