Free Speech is Dead in England
LIVERPOOL, England - A Christian couple in England is now at risk of losing their business after being prosecuted for debating Islam with a Muslim guest.
Police arrested Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang, who run the Bounty House Hotel in Liverpool, after a Muslim woman complained that she was offended by comments made to her in March. Because the legal case is ongoing the couple cannot comment public
More..ly.
According to newspaper reports, the debate at the hotel involved discussion of whether Jesus was the son of God or just a minor prophet of Islam. Newspapers also reported the debate included comments that Mohammed was a warlord and Muslim dress for women was a form of bondage.
The facts of the case are disputed, according to Mike Judge of the Christian Institute, a legal organization helping fund the couple's defense.
He says it's important that Christians defend their right to talk about their faith.
"Freedom of speech is something that is protected in England. But it is being eroded and there are cases of Christians now being told by police officers that they are not allowed to express their religious beliefs," he said. "This has caused the couple serious financial harm. The hotel has seen an 80 percent drop in its income, because a local hospital used to book its local outpatients there."
"As a result of this case and the criminal charges that have been put against these Christians, the hospital has decided not to send its outpatients there anymore," he continued.
Despite that, Judge says the couple has been overwhelmed by the support they've received from Christians around the world.
"They've been tremendously encouraged by hundreds and hundreds of Christians from all over the world emailing them to say, 'we're standing, we're praying with you, we're horrified that this is happening to you and we hope that you succeed in your legal defense,'" he said.
The pair is being prosecuted for a public order offense, when someone feels insulted for their membership of a religious group.
Judge says the case raises significant free speech and religious liberty issues.
"The reason this case is so important is that the freedom to share the Gospel in a Christian country really needs to be paramount and if people can't get involved in a debate about religion then we are losing our freedom of speech," he said. "This is not just an issue that we're facing in Britain, but we're facing it in other Western countries as well and Christians across those nations have to stand together to defend our freedom of speech."
A criminal trial is set for December 8at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.
If convicted the couple could face a maximum fine of $8,000. They'll also have a criminal record.
Less..
Added: Oct 18 2009 In: news_politics
Recorded on: Oct 18 2009
By: smellvir 
- Views: 2182 |
- Votes: 5 |
- Recommendations: 0 |
- Comments: 67
Comments - sort by newest to oldest
You couldent make this up another pointer to the way things are going here in Britain,FFS iam offended by many muslim beliefs but hey i wont get any compo.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "anglosaxonwarlord" (R)
They should countersue for the exact same thing and add defamation charges as well. Nobody is allowed to critisize islam, yet islamists are allowed to criticize anyone they want? What two faced farktards. The worst part is the fact that their own government is prosecuting this based on heresay. What a load of "politically correct" apologist crap.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "SpookGA" (R)
**** British Muslims under freedom of speech.
They really me sick with their pajamas.
Britain is ****ed up already after Manchester City been Sold to Emaratis,Portsmouth to Saudian, Universities and Churchs are converted to Mosques,
200.000 Somalians the size of Malta population moved to England, British must wait another 5 years and Chariaa Law will be implemented.
It will be no DJ, no ham, no upskirts, no Alchol, no sex outside marriage,
Bukingham palace will be the head of islamic state of Europe and pajamas where evr you go.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)
Just another reason to hate Islam and Muslims.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "truebrit49" (R)
Criticising your customers' religious beliefs is always bad business. That said, this incident does trample freedom of speech as expressed in every modern codification of that concept on either side of the Atlantic.
This is kind of an issue with Labour, isn't it? They tried to update their comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and in the process they smacked down free speech.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "john731863" (R)
Wake up British patriots before is too late, the ruling class of England have sold all your lands to sheikhs of middle east.
All taxis are run by Muslims and even the concils gave them free the latest laptops.
The more you listens to them , the more they will gets everything they want.
I am not racists or anti-religion but they have gone too far and is time to stop this big mess to save the beauty of Madame Rose.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)
This is kind of an issue with Labour, isn't it? They tried to update their comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and in the process they smacked down free speech.
I always prefer France because they knows how to **** any Muslim who want to take advantage form them.
Wait, just go to Leicester and see how many French Muslims to England last 10 years?
Believe it or not over 950 families including singles.
All the muslims under Saudians doctrine have found very easy access to establish powerbase.
The assholes ruling class d'ont give damn because they already own 40% 0f England and they brougth lands in Colorado for the awaiting moment.
They're a lot of secrets going on but I keep them to myself.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)
The queen brougth a massive bunker in (Denver) Colorado worth a billion.
Top Secret and I d'ont give a ****.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)
This is kind of an issue with Labour, isn't it? They tried to update their comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and in the process they smacked down free speech.
I always prefer France because they knows how to **** any Muslim who want to take advantage form them.
Wait, just go to Leicester and see how many French Muslims to England last 10 years?
Believe it or not over 950 families including singles.
All the muslims under Saudians doctrine have found very easy access to establish powerbase.
The assholes ruling class d'ont give damn because they already own 40% 0f England and they brougth lands in Colorado for the awaiting moment.
They're a lot of secrets going on but I keep them to myself.
The French learned the hard way after entire suburbs around Paris turned into foreign Muslim enclaves where native French could not go without being attacked, having their cars burned, and risk their lives. I suspect that was a big reason for Sarkozy's election a couple years ago.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "john731863" (R)
Tragic... All the real threats to our freedoms in the west, come from the left.
There are plenty of people on LL who see nothing wrong with this outrage. 1) Muslims, 2) Liberals.
I wish Geert and Savage would hop a yacht to England and just show up at an event one day to give a speech. Force the police to arrest them.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "ST0N3PONY" (R)
Half of the monney taken form British tax payers goes to somalians bennifits then the 20% of that money go to Somalia to help Chabab el Moujahideens to establish Islamic state in Somalia.
You been fooled for many years so d'ont commit suicide.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)
The treasonous "liberals" are hard at work on that here, too.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "Future_ExterminatorWP88" (B)
This is kind of an issue with Labour, isn't it? They tried to update their comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and in the process they smacked down free speech.
"They tried to update their comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and in the process they smacked down free speech."
BINGO
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "lenovo1" (R)
This is kind of an issue with Labour, isn't it? They tried to update their comprehensive anti-terrorism policy and in the process they smacked down free speech.
I always prefer France because they knows how to **** any Muslim who want to take advantage form them.
Wait, just go to Leicester and see how many French Muslims to England last 10 years?
Believe it or not over 950 families including singles.
All the muslims under Saudians doctrine have found very easy access to establish powerbase.
The assholes ruling class d'ont give damn because they already own 40% 0f England and they brougth lands in Colorado for the awaiting moment.
They're a lot of secrets going on but I keep them to myself.
The French learned the hard way after entire suburbs around Paris turned into foreign Muslim enclaves where native French could not go without being attacked, having their cars burned, and risk their lives. I suspect that was a big reason for Sarkozy's election a couple years ago.
Well said and let me add something:
All French Muslims pajamas have left France 10 years ago.
Some of them Syria, Yemen, Saudia Arbia, Quatar and the rest to England.
One thing that Liveleakers must understand that the Muslims in France are completely differents than Uk.
Because :
1. Most of them are not extrimists:
2-they drinks Alchol.
3 Gambling
4-watch Porn
5-50% of them d'ont fasts Ramadan
6- less Mosques than UK.
This is why England is the best destination for extremists.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)
I am alert 24 hours for what's going on around the world.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "usounddodgy" (R)