Television star, Rowan Atkinson, from the celebrated comedy series “Blackadder” has joined conservative Christian groups in opposing the proposed religious hatred Bill. The celebrity will lead a coalition of comedians, writers and religious groups to oppose the Government’s plans to control extremists who incite religious hatred.
The force will now launch a campaign against some of the components of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill.
Opposition to the religious hatred Bill has been clearly voiced by many conservative groups including the Barnabas Fund, the Evangelical Alliance, and the Lawyer Christian Fellowship. The Bill is due to receive its second reading this week, and will look to create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred, which has the aim of protecting faith groups, in particular Muslims.