BRITAIN’S race relations chief is today calling for the abolition of ancient blasphemy laws which make attacks on Christianity an offence punishable by life imprisonment — but offer no protection for other faiths.

Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, will tell an audience of MPs and peers this afternoon that proposed legislation against inciting religious hatred should be accompanied by the scrapping of defunct and divisive blasphemy laws.

Although the proposed ban on inciting religious hatred has been criticised by writers, comedians and civil liberty organisations as potentially restricting the freedom of speech, the CRE strongly supports the Bill.

Mr Phillips will say: “Christians, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs all need to be protected from being turned into the objects of hate crimes. The law should protect the believer but not the belief itself. Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism are robust enough to fight for themselves. In short, God does not need the Lord Chancellor to be his bodyguard.”

His comments come amid attempts by Christian groups to use blasphemy laws to prosecute the BBC for broadcasting Jerry Springer — The Opera last weekend which, they say, ridiculed Jesus Christ.

The screening on BBC2 prompted a record 50,000 complaints from viewers, as well as public protests outside the broadcaster’s headquarters and threats towards TV executives.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Sarah Brown says 'no thanks' to veal at G8 - twice
• Stockton-on-Tees is obesity capital of Britain
• Stores blame poor sales on Murray factor