Rowan steps up religious law fight

Rowan Atkinson has renewed his call for the government to abandon plans to make inciting religious hatred a crime.

He fears the movie, in the Serious and Organised Crime Bill, will be used against comics who mock religion and would be a serious curb on the right to free speech.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today show today,Atkinson said: “The problem with the legislation as proposed that it is all-encompassing.

“The incitement of religious hatred doesn’t even have to be intended – it’s just if it offends any person. It couldn’t be more broad.

"I know that they [the Home Office] do not intend to militate against people like me, but the only safety valve that they have put in the legislation is the fact that the attorney general will have the final say.

 "A safety valve operated by a politician subject to the political agendas of the day is not to me a good enough safety valve

Atkinson was speaking in support of a Commons amendment tabled by Liberal Democrat Evan Harris designed to offer increased protection of freedom of expression. MPs will debate the measure today.

Click here to hear the Today interview >>

Published: 7 Feb 2005