BBC: Jerry Spring blasphemy case dismissed, again

Christian Voice’s civil blasphemy case appeal against the BBC over it’s screening of Jerry Springer:The Opera has, thankfully, been once again dismissed by the UK courts.

It’s not all good news though. The BBC reports:

However, the two senior judges at the High Court said the 1968 Theatres Act prevented any prosecution for blasphemy in relation to public performances of plays.

The 1990 Broadcasting Act, they continued, prevented any prosecution in relation to broadcasts.

They said it was reasonable to conclude Jerry Springer – The Opera “in context” could not be considered as blasphemous, as it was not aimed at Christianity, but was a parody of the chat show genre.

Unfortunately, as was pointed out to me when I was alerted to the news article, the blasphemy case wasn’t — as it should have been — rejected because it’s ridiculous, but because there are two other laws that supersede it.

The BBC’s statement after the ruling read:

“We believe the work, taken in its proper context, satirises and attacks exploitative chat shows and not the Christian religion,” it said. “The court’s judgement today vindicates that decision in full.

“Today’s decision addresses the way the law of blasphemy applies to broadcasters, and the Court has found that criminal prosecutions for blasphemy should not be permitted in relation to broadcasts.

“This is an important decision in the defence of free speech. We, of course, believe that broadcasters should continue to exercise great care and sensitivity when dealing with potential religious offence, and that has not changed.”

What the BBC seems to fail to recognise is that, although broadcasters are exempt from “blasphemy” (whatever that actually is) the greater general public are still subject to a law that puts the “right” of non-offence to a singular superstitious cult over the free-speech rights of the British public.

This is not on.

I can’t see this as a victory for free-speech, I can only see it as a victory for broadcasters.

We should, as I will maintain until they’re removed from the statute, repeal these retrograde, unprovable, anachronistic, discriminatory, thought-control laws now.

Sign the petition to have the UK’s blasphemy laws revoked.

Read the full article over at the BBC.

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