Should religious insults land you in court?

[CanisMajor]

Just watching Sunday Morning Live, they are discussing the above question, in relation to he Galliano case and also Wilders remarks etc.

[jackthehat]

In countries where it is illegal to make them, yes.
Their country, their rules.

[CanisMajor]

leaving aside the default position of obeying the laws of the country you are in, do you think it should be the case that free speech is curtailed in this way.

[samak]

No.

[jackthehat]

The trouble is that the 'rights of Freedom of Speech' is parroted out in cases such as this, (and they are two very different cases) and very little mention is ever mad of the 'responsibilities of Freedom of Speech'.

Wilders concerns about Islam, did NOT constitute 'incitement to hatred and discrimination' as he was acquitted on those charges.

Galliano has been charged with 'allegedly making racist comments to customers in a café' and a Paris court has ordered that 'he stand trial on charges of "public insults based on the origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity" against three people'............a far more specific and personal charge.

[sophie_1003]

There's a big difference between 'free speech' and being downright rude and offensive. So yes in some cases they should.

[jno]

freedom of speech is just one of many possible freedoms. Hitler's freedom to stir up hatred of the Jews might have weighed against Jews' freedom to get on with their lives without being exterminated; but it wasn't. Should it have been so? I think so. And now it would be.

There's nothing particularly sacrosanct about free speech.

[bazwillrun]

As for Galiano, if you do a bit of delving on him he seems to have a bit of history of this kind of thing with regards to Jewish people.

This does not appear to be the first antisemetic rant of his.

[bazwillrun]

Why on earth is this being allowed in a civilised society ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13918358

It appears for a select few that crime does pay.

We need to ditch outside influence on this country and apply our own laws where and how we see fit and not be forced by others into even tolerating these claims and subsequent payouts

[samak]

I think the question differentiates between insulting religions and insulting races.

[bazwillrun]

sorry posted in wrong place....obviously

yet another instance of why an edit facility would be useful, like most other forums have !

[Zeuhl]

Freedom of action yes
Freedom to assault people no

Freedom of speech yes
Freedom to abuse people no

[bazwillrun]

"Freedom of speech yes
Freedom to abuse people no"

that depends on what you class as verbal abuse

[jackthehat]

And that is why we have courts.........to test these rules.

[sp1814]

There are limits to freedom of speech.

Do you think that someone has the right to run into a crowded theatre screaming, "fire...fire"? At the top of their voices?

We have freedom of speech, but we do NOT have freedom from responsibility. Say what you want, but acknowledge that some things you say will land you in hot water.

[keyplus90]

Kill all the infidels.






Don't worry, I did not mean that and I hate people who say anything like that but I was just using my freedom of speech.

[Gromit]

It is pretty obvious from looking at catholic priests, than anyone who is a christian is a paedophile. So all chrisians should be hanged from the nearest lamp-post. Suely no one can disagree with this?

[jno]

thank goodness for that, keyplus, you had me worried.

[sophie_1003]

Lol keyplus; if Answerbank had a 'Like' button I would have clicked it!