BBC censors Sikh history in case it offends Muslims
Lord (Indarjit) Singh has been almost as permanent a fixture on BBC Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' as the Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines. The BBC likes a certain…
Freedom of Expression
Manners maketh Man/Woman/Other
At the State Opening of Parliament yesterday, television footage showed the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition leading a long line of their parliamentary colleagues into the Upper Chamber to hear the Queen outline the plans of her new…
Islamophobia definition creates a backdoor blasphemy law: it will be used to outlaw all criticism of Islam
Published below is an open letter to the Home Secretary Sajid Javid concerning the definition of 'Islamophobia' which has been proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.…
Why are there anti-Christian extremists on the Commission for Countering Extremism?
"The Commission for Countering Extremism supports society to fight all forms of extremism", declares the Government website for the Commission for Countering Extremism. "It advises the government on new policies…
Lowering the voting age to six isn’t a bad idea: it would give the family its rightful electoral status
Prof David Runciman (Cambridge University) is of the view that an ageing population is creating a democratic crisis: the views of those beneath the age of 18 – the current…
Jesus and Mo: Twitter serves UK journalist with warning of ‘illegality’ (blasphemy?)
Observer journalist Kenan Malik had tweeted out a Jesus and Mo cartoon (do check them out – it's quality stuff), and was just penning a piece about the ECHR judgment…
Don’t defame Mohammed: ECHR affirms European sharia blasphemy law
The European Court of Human Rights has unanimously decreed that national governments may fine or imprison their citizens for attacking or defaming Mohammed. The judges determined that "the Prophet of…
Gay cake: why don’t CofE bishops care about freedom of religion?
It was a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court. The queer case of the 'gay cake' has been rumbling on for four long years, and the highest court in the…
Online hate: Twitter speaks what the heart is full of
Life is a lot of bitterness and hate: there are oppressors and victims; struggles, dilemmas and protests. There is suffering and pain, anxiety and change. There are cries for vengeance,…
As Britain falls down the press freedom index, the Data Protection Bill could end it altogether
"We note with dismay the UK’s poor ranking in the latest Reporters Without Borders world press freedom index," wrote Jodie Ginsberg, CEO if Index on Censorship, in a letter to…
Nigel Biggar on the degeneracy of academic civility
Professor Nigel Biggar has written for the Times: 'Vile abuse is now tolerated in our universities'. He tells us: "The spitting hatred I suffered over my views on empire shows…
New Musical: The Assassination of Diane Abbott
The Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, Tamara Harvey, has announced full casting for the world première production of 'The Assassination of Diane Abbott' – a new musical from Chris Bush…
Jo Johnson’s muddled and aimless thinking about freedom of speech in universities
Universities Minister Jo Johnson delivered a much-trailed (..and here, here, here...) speech about the imperative of academic freedom of speech, which he says must be guaranteed on pain of universities…
The British Government has made it crystal clear that proclaiming the divinity of Christ is not a hate crime
The Catholic Herald has been banging on about this now for a whole week. Apparently, Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Ukip) asked Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Conservative) to confirm "that a…
Prince of Wales to UK Christians: “Do not take your rights of freedom of worship and freedom of expression for granted”
The Prince of Wales has visited London's Melkite Greek Catholic parish, based at St Barnabas Church in Pimlico. Coptic Orthodox Bishop Angaelos was in attendance, along with Syriac Archbishop Athanasius…
LGBT Pride London: police attempt to remove ‘Allah is Gay’ placards for causing offence
"Pride is full of placards saying 'God is Gay', 'Jesus had two fathers', as well as those mocking the church and priests and pope," writes Maryam Namazie, spokeswoman for the…
Tory MP hates social media: “It gives a voice to people who don’t deserve one”
Gary Streeter is the Conservative MP for South West Devon. He is a committed Christian who helped found the Conservative Christian Fellowship. He now chairs the cross-party group Christians in…
Rev’d Dr Gavin Ashenden resigns as Chaplain to the Queen
After a conversation instigated by officials at Buckingham Palace, it is with regret that the Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden – theologian, academic, columnist and occasional contributor to this blog –…
Is it wrong to judge a blog by the comments it attracts?
"I guess I find it hard to take that particular blog very seriously really," wrote the Rev'd Canon Andrew Godsall, ministry development adviser in the Diocese of Exeter, of the…
Louis Smith is threatened and suspended for mocking Islam, and Theresa May preaches tolerance, balance and responsibility
This wasn't the first time that four-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith had been rebuked by his professional association British Gymnastics for breaching their Standards of Conduct. So when a video…