Wednesday, May 21, 2008

In the UK, You Can Be Arrested for Telling the Truth

Usually, the victims of European "hate speech" laws are those who criticize Islam or the growing Islamization of Europe (exemplified by the late Oriana Fallaci in Italy, or still-very-much-alive Bridget Bardot in France). But the laws have been written in such a fashion that any pressure group can use them to squelch any sort of criticism. This is particularly true in Britain as one young man has just learned.

The incident happened during a protest against the Church of Scientology on May 10. Demonstrators from the anti-Scientology group, Anonymous, who were outside the church's £23m headquarters near St Paul's cathedral, were banned by police from describing Scientology as a cult by police because it was "abusive and insulting".

Writing on an anti-Scientology website, the teenager facing court said: "I brought a sign to the May 10th protest that said: 'Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult.'

"'Within five minutes of arriving I was told by a member of the police that I was not allowed to use that word, and that the final decision would be made by the inspector."

A policewoman later read him section five of the Public Order Act and "strongly advised" him to remove the sign. The section prohibits signs which have representations or words which are threatening, abusive or insulting.

The teenager refused to back down, quoting a 1984 high court ruling from Mr Justice Latey, in which he described the Church of Scientology as a "cult" which was "corrupt, sinister and dangerous".

After the exchange, a policewoman handed him a court summons and removed his sign.

Civil rights activists were alarmed and surprised by the actions of the police, calling the situation "barmy" and almost "farcical." But perhaps they shouldn't be so surprised:

The City of London police came under fire two years ago when it emerged that more than 20 officers, ranging from constable to chief superintendent, had accepted gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology.

The City of London Chief Superintendent, Kevin Hurley, praised Scientology for "raising the spiritual wealth of society" during the opening
of its headquarters in 2006.

Last year a video praising Scientology emerged featuring Ken Stewart, another of the City of London's chief superintendents, although he is not a member of the group.

So, it seems that Muslims aren't the only ones capable of exploiting the idiocy of multiculturalism and political correctness for their own gain. Other groups are perfectly willing to use Western Civilization's ideological suicide to their advantage as well.

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