UK court blocks blasphemy case
2007-12-05 16:33
London - Britain's High Court ruled
on Wednesday that a Christian activist may not prosecute a BBC
executive under blasphemy laws over its screening of Jerry
Springer-The Opera.
Based on US television host Jerry Springer's brash talk
show, the musical depicts Jesus being referred to as "a little
bit gay" and features Eve attempting to fondle his genitals.
The British public broadcaster's decision to air the show in
2005 sparked demonstrations, a record number of complaints from
viewers and a heated debate about whether freedom of expression
was more important than religious sensitivities.
Stephen Green of the Christian Voice group went to London's
High Court to try to overturn a decision by a district judge not
to allow him to pursue his case against BBC director-general
Mark Thompson and Jon Thoday, the musical's producer.
But in a ruling handed down on Wednesday, two senior judges
said the show did not contravene blasphemy laws.
"The play had been performed regularly in major theatres in
London for a period of nearly two years without any sign of it
undermining society or occasioning civil strife or unrest," the
ruling said.
Civil liberties group Liberty, which made a written
submission during the case, called Britain's blasphemy law
"outdated" and "ripe for repeal".
It argued that the offence of
blasphemy violated the European Convention on Human Rights.