£1,000 fine for homophobic preacher is excessive
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Christian conviction condemned as unjustified, heavy-handed
Freedom of speech must be defended, even for homophobes
London – 30 March 2010
The conviction and £1,000 fine imposed on a homophobic Christian street
preacher in Glasgow has been condemned by human rights campaigner Peter
Tatchell as “an attack on free speech and a heavy-handed, excessive
response to homophobia.”
Shawn Holes, an American Baptist evangelist touring Britain, was fined
£1,000 for telling passers-by in Glasgow city centre: "Homosexuals are
deserving of the wrath of God – and so are all other sinners – and they
are going to a place called hell."
In court, he admitted breaching the peace on 18 March by "uttering
homophobic remarks" that were "aggravated by religious prejudice".
See Scotland on Sunday, 28 March 2010:
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Preacher-is-fined-for-homophobia.6186156.jp
"Shawn Holes is obviously homophobic and should not be insulting people
with his anti-gay tirades. He should be challenged and people should
protest against his intolerance,” said Mr Tatchell.
“However, in a democratic, free society it is wrong to prosecute him. Criminalisation is not appropriate.
“The price of freedom of speech is that we sometimes have to put up with opinions that are objectionable and offensive.
“Just as people should have the right to criticise religion, people of
faith should have the right to criticise homosexuality. Only
incitements to violence should be illegal.
“Mr Holes’s £1,000 fine is totally disproportionate. Even people who
commit robberies and violent assaults sometimes get off with lighter
penalties. This prosecution was heavy-handed and an inappropriate use
of the law.
"If I had known about this prosecution in advance, I would have gone to
court to defend Mr Holes’s right to freedom of expression and to urge
that the charges against him be dropped.
“Even though I strongly disagree with his views on homosexuality, if he
had decided to appeal against either the conviction or the sentence, I
would have supported him.
“I urge the police and prosecuting authorities to concentrate on
tackling serious homophobic hate crimes, instead of wasting public
money on petty, distasteful homophobic ranters,” said Mr Tatchell.