The Free Speech Question vs the freedom question
SWEARY WARNING- I might be using the odd profanity or two over the next week or so for emphasis as I’m going to be muttering about the state of Brownian Britain under New Liebour. So, avert your children’s eyes or look away if easily offended, the internet is for consenting adults.
News is bouncing around the blogosphere about a Blogger called Lionheart who is going to be arrested when he returns to the UK on suspicion of hate crime. I won’t reiterate the details but will link to a very sensible position by Brian Micklethwait over on Samizdata if you want to play catch-up.
Now Lionheart is one of the so-called Islamaphobia blogs which aren’t a very nice read at all but make many points, some valid. Anyway, the Home Office definition of Hate Crime is this:
Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.
I’m out of time this evening, too many emails. Just ponder that definition a while and what it means. Back tomorrow with more thoughts
January 8th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Gosh, I knew nothing about this, though I have heard and seen the name “lionheart” here and there. Will be interested to read your follow-up.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I’m afraid I will have to report you for your prejudice against good old fashioned spam when you compared it to junk mail.
Seriously though, 3/4 of bloggers could be arrested under that definition.
January 8th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
[...] is a follow-on post from yesterday’s topic about Blogger arrest. (sweary alert) [...]
January 8th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Beaman- I know. The list of protected minorities in Britain now includes everybody apart from able bodied indigenous young atheist heterosexual males, a minority in itself, but an unprotected one.