Muslim scholar backs Christian pastor's right to call Islam 'satanic'

[CopyBoy]

A Muslim academic has spoken outside a Belfast court in support of a born-again Christian pastor who is on trial after denouncing Islam as “satanic” and “heathen”.

Pastor James McConnell is being prosecuted under the 2003 Communications Act over his anti-Islam remarks during a controversial sermon at his church in Newtonabbey, County Antrim, last year.

The 78-year-old evangelical Protestant preacher faces two charges – improper use of a public electronic communications network and causing a grossly offensive message to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network – because his remarks, made at Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, in north Belfast, were posted on the internet.

theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/14/muslim-scholar-christian-pastor-james-mcconnell-islam-satanic

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

Give That man a Medal ,what’s wrong with calling a Spade a Spade ?
Plus the right to freedom of expression,
If this were not so , then wouldn’t it be an offence to transmit Islamic messages of hatred
Of western Christian democratic lifestyle ?

 

[cycleman]

Give That man a Medal ,what’s wrong with calling a Spade a Spade ?
Plus the right to freedom of expression,

All the scholar did was affirm the right of the Protestant minister to free speech, he was in no way endorsing his sentiments…

“Moreover, in a free and democratic society we enter into severe peril when we start to confuse what we perhaps ought or ought not to say, with what in law we are allowed to, or not allowed to say.”

Free speech applies to everyone. It follows then that opponents of Catholicism have an equal right to call Catholicism satanic, right? Just want to make sure you agree that free speech applies to everyone, not just Christians!

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

That’s Freedom of speech and expression,but at what point does that become offensive ?

That I think could be a good title to a new thread ?

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

Good point, perhaps you might like to contribute to a new thread I started,

 

[TheAtheist]

That’s Freedom of speech and expression,but at what point does that become offensive ?

That I think could be a good title to a new thread ?

That’s actually one of the great big questions of the day isn’t it?

How “Free” is Free speech?

Certain countries have Anti-Blasphemy laws, others have Anti-Racial bigotry laws.

Where does one draw a line?

Do we even bother with drawing one?

 

[SuperLuigi]

That’s actually one of the great big questions of the day isn’t it?

How “Free” is Free speech?

Certain countries have Anti-Blasphemy laws, others have Anti-Racial bigotry laws.

Where does one draw a line?

Do we even bother with drawing one?

If a person can’t blaspheme or say racist things, they don’t have free speech–not that I recommend either. :nope:

See, it’s fun, neat and party-time when the law and government give someone what they want, but it stinks when the beast turns on them.