Sectarian Bill will not curtail free speech 10/11/11
MSP Alasdair Allan has welcomed assurances that the Scottish Government will make amendments to the proposed Bill to tackle sectarianism.
The move follows requests from churches and others to ensure that the legislation does not have the unintended effect of restricting the right to free speech.
Alasdair Allan commented: “I believe that the police and prosecution authorities in Scotland are right when they say that legislation is needed to tackle sectarian behaviour, particularly at some football matches and also online.
“For that reason I support the offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill, which is being designed to give police the powers to prevent some of the outrageous displays of threatening and sectarian behaviour seen at Scotland’s football matches, and online shortly after them.
“I have met and corresponded with a number of churches and individuals locally, who have been anxious to ensure that we get the legislation right, and ensure that it does not have the unintended effects of curtailing free speech. This is a point that I, and other MSP’s have made to the Government.”
He added: “I am therefore pleased that Roseanna Cunningham has now given an undertaking to amend the Bill to make it explicitly clear that the expression of religious, or other opinions, such as in the form of preaching are not being restricted, unless these activities constitute an actual threat to anyone.
“I believe that this is an important guarantee of people’s religious liberty and that this clarification allows us to concentrate on dealing with the minority of those attending football matches who continue to express threatening, racist, sectarian, or terrorist views.”