Catholic Association for Racial Justice
STATEMENT ON RACIAL & RELIGIOUS HATRED

In the wake of Parliament’s refusal to pass effective legislation on incitement to religious hatred, there is space for reflection on how we can reduce hate crime and promote understanding and cooperation in an increasingly diverse society. Those groups who opposed the legislation, as well as those who favoured it, have an obligation to contribute to this discussion.

We in CARJ supported the legislation because of our concern that, thirty years after the passage of the Race Relations Act 1976, this country, Europe and the wider world are going through rapid changes that challenge our ability to live peacefully with one another. Recent events, including the failure of the prosecution of a BNP leader for incitement, the publication of cartoons deeply offensive to Muslims in a number of European countries and counter- demonstrations by moderate and extremist Muslim groups, have highlighted this challenge once again.

Those who opposed the Racial & Religious Hatred Bill may be right. The law as drafted may have been too flawed to be effective, and it may have proved to be counterproductive. Nonetheless, there are dangers in championing free speech to the point where it approaches the affirmation of a right to hate. Moreover, current laws which punish violence, after the fact, are little help to the victims and may or may not deter further violence. We need to create a society where the hatred, which breeds violence and division, is unacceptable even if it is not always illegal, and where no group or institution is exempt from the ethic of mutual respect.

With debates about the Racial & Religious Hatred Bill now behind us, we believe there are four areas which need attention from all concerned over the coming months:

§ At a time when the government is committed to bring together existing anti-discrimination legislation into a Single Equalities Act, we should consider the possibility of inclusive hate crimes legislation which would protect a range of vulnerable groups.

§ We support the government’s intention to establish a new Commission on Integration & Cohesion, which we hope can encourage and coordinate discussions about proactive strategies to build better understanding and cooperation.

§ We hope that churches and faith communities will build on positive developments over recent years and become a greater force for good relations and cooperation between ethnic and religious communities in local areas.

§ Schools are particularly important, and faith schools can play a significant role in building bridges in some areas. We do not accept that faith schools are in principle divisive, even in relatively segregated neighbourhoods; but we do believe they have a fundamental obligation to work hard at being a force for good in those areas. Some are currently achieving this and some are not.