Posted by Eugene Volokh:
"Christian Hotel Owners Hauled Before Court After Defending Their Beliefs in
Discussion With Muslim Guest,"
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_09_20-2009_09_26.shtml#1253511833
reports the [1]Daily Mail (UK). Note that this sort of thing is hard
to evaluate without knowing exactly what was said, and that in turn is
hard to do when there are just recollections of what was said in
extemporaneous conversation. Nonetheless, the breadth of the law,
which covers "abusive or insulting words" generally -- which would
potentially include speech that condemns a religion -- and not just
threats and personalized insults, is enough to give cause for worry:
A Christian couple have been charged with a criminal offence after
taking part in what they regarded as a reasonable discussion about
religion with guests at their hotel.
Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang were arrested after a Muslim woman
complained to police that she had been offended by their comments.
They have been charged under public order laws with using
�threatening, abusive or insulting words� that were �religiously
aggravated�....
Although the facts are disputed, it is thought that during the
conversation the couple were challenged over their Christian
beliefs.
It is understood that they suggested that Mohammed, the founder of
Islam, was a warlord and that traditional Muslim dress for women
was a form of bondage.
They deny, however, that their comments were threatening and argue
that they had every right to defend and explain their beliefs....
If anyone can point me to any more specific details on the case, I'd
love to see them. Thanks to Victor Steinbok for the pointer.
References
1.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214666/Christian-hotel-owners-hauled-court-defending-beliefs-discussion-Muslim-guest.html
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