1. Free to be religious? Philip Allan Publishers © 2016

2. Free to be religious? Every UK citizen has the right to freedom of speech and this is protected by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognises: ‘ Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’ The only real limitations to free speech are that people may not make public speeches that might seriously harm or offend others or incite violence and hatred. Until 2008, in the UK freedom of speech was also limited when it came to matters of religion. The offence of blasphemy made it illegal to speak in a derogatory way about the Christian God — denying his being, making fun and scoffing at the scriptures and exposing the name of Jesus Christ, or the Bible, to scorn and ridicule. Philip Allan Publishers © 2016

3. Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 There have been a number of arguments for and against the Race and Religious Hatred Act. Those in favour claim that the new law protects religious minorities from religious hatred and scorn and curbs racial and cultural hatred. Those against the Act claim that it prevents freedom of speech in religious matters because comedy and satire are important aspects of that freedom. Dr Don Horrocks of the Evangelical Alliance said in April 2005: ‘This legislation is likely to undermine freedom of speech, damage community relations and usher in a new climate of illiberalism and repression.’ However, there are serious limitations to this freedom in the UK. Religious believers must be careful not to offend public morals — for example, by sacrificing a goat in their garden — and must not infringe the freedoms of others. Philip Allan Publishers © 2016

4. Religious clothing (1) Religious clothing is also a source of controversy. Although in the UK people are generally allowed to dress however they wish (so long as they do not infringe the laws of public decency), there are restrictions on certain types of clothing that reflect particular aspects of religion and culture. In 2005 a case arose at a primary school in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, when a 23-year-old Muslim teaching assistant, Aishah Azmi, was suspended from her post for refusing to remove her veil in class. The school authorities claimed that the pupils could not understand her when she spoke wearing the veil. The then prime minister, Tony Blair, said on BBC news that he thought the veil was a ‘mark of separation’ (6 October 2006). The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said in a BBC radio interview: ‘… that a powerful man can say to a completely powerless woman, I think you should take your veil off, I think is completely and utterly wrong and insensitive.’ Philip Allan Publishers © 2016

5. Religious clothing (2) In October 2006 a Christian called Nadia Eweida, employed by British Airways as a member of the check-in staff, was sent home without pay because she refused to cover up a Christian cross that she wore around her neck. British Airways responded by saying that all religious symbols on chains should be worn underneath the uniform, but admitted that they did allow Sikhs to wear turbans and Muslim women to wear the hijab because these items cannot be covered up. So is there religious freedom in the UK? Well, to a point, yes, but there are still a number of areas where controversy and uncertainty remain. Philip Allan Publishers © 2016