What a CU*T

[Deckard]

At the risk of sounding all Daily Mail, here's another one from Barmy Britain....


Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word "cult" to describe the Church of Scientology.

The unnamed 15-year-old was served the summons by City of London police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion. Officers confiscated a placard with the word "cult" on it from the youth, who is under 18, and a case file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The incident happened during a protest against the Church of Scientology on May 10. Demonstrators from the anti-Scientology group, Anonymous, who were outside the church's £23m headquarters near St Paul's cathedral, were banned by police from describing Scientology as a cult by police because it was "abusive and insulting".

Writing on an anti-Scientology website, the teenager facing court said: "I brought a sign to the May 10th protest that said: 'Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult.' "'Within five minutes of arriving I was told by a member of the police that I was not allowed to use that word, and that the final decision would be made by the inspector."

A policewoman later read him section five of the Public Order Act and "strongly advised" him to remove the sign. The section prohibits signs which have representations or words which are threatening, abusive or insulting.

[A big WTF at this point ]

Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti, said: "This barmy prosecution makes a mockery of Britain's free speech traditions. After criminalising the use of the word 'cult', perhaps the next step is to ban the words 'war' and 'tax' from peaceful demonstrations?"

More here


Just crazy............... How can you possibly ban something because it's "insulting"? I understand threatening, but this is just bloody daft. Thankfully it seems to be causing a stir.

[Sean]

I can understand not allowing people to say things or hold signs that would incite violence, but making it a crime to say something "abusive or insulting" is just idiotic. We're talking basic freedom of speech here.

On the plus side, it's nice to see that some of your problems over there are more ridiculous than some of ours over here.

[BeautifulBurnout]

Well, if you enact laws to make political statements, rather like using a Howitzer to crack a nut, you will end up with all kinds of shrapnel all over the place.

Ever since New Labour got in, with its overwhelming majority (and whom I actually voted for in 97 - never a-fukken-gain!), they have introduced stupie law upon stupid law with entire impunity as there has been no-one to challenge their power. And the Scientologists may well be "insulted" by being called a cult. Whoopee! There is a law to "protect" them from it!

The Countryside Alliance found themselves in all kinds of shit a few years ago when one of their members started producing t-shirts with "Bollocks to Blair" on them. Yes - you've guessed it! Fixed penalty fines, summonses and even arrests under s.5 of the Public Order Act abounded!

It is all bollocks.

Still - keeps me in work

[dubman]

what's that guardian? police ciefs and higher ups received huge kickbacks and gifts from the scientology group? you dont say. well gosh, i hope they at least took a weekend getaway on the u.s.s abesto-i mean-freewinds.

[IsiliRunite]

SCIENTOLOGY IS A CULT.

Bring it on, cultists; I'm resurrecting Johnny Cochran to fight the case!

[Rog]

well, i've been called a cult on many occasions...........

[Rog]

but seriously, this is yet another manifestation of the way 'new labour' (sicK)is turning this country into a police state.....so much so that i'm seriously considering fooking off to live in another country where people are more respected