Speak Out Against the Hate Speech & Hate Crimes Bill Today - Christian News
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Speak Out Against the Hate Speech & Hate Crimes Bill Today

Source: FOR SA (Freedom of Religion South Africa)
Date Added: 2017-01-26
Category: General News,  Issues - Politics,  Issues - Freedom of Religion, 
TIME IS RUNNING OUT FAST:
SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE HATE CRIMES & HATE SPEECH BILL TODAY –
Our Freedom depends on it!

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development recently published, and invited the public to comment on, the long-awaited and controversial Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill.

The deadline for comments on this Bill is next week Tuesday, 31 January 2017. 

The Bill makes “hate speech” a criminal offence in South African law, punishable by a fine and/or a maximum of 3 years’ jail time for a 1st offence (and 10 years for a repeated offence). The problem however is that, in terms of the Bill, “hate speech” is so broadly defined that it includes virtually any speech that anyone could potentially find offensive – even when there is no actual victim!

If the Bill is passed in its current form, it will have major ramifications for Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. While the Bill does not explicitly ban the Scriptures, the over-broad definition of “hate speech” in the Bill could potentially muzzle believers from speaking their religious convictions and beliefs freely and without fear of punishment.

At a meeting with religious leaders at Turffontein race course on Monday, 23 January, the Deputy Minister of Justice is reported to have said that “the Bill will criminalise preaching against homosexuality‚ racial discrimination and so forth.” (See more here)
 

CALL TO ACTION

  • Submit comments on the Bill by no later than next week Tuesday, 31 January 2017.  To make it easy, FOR SA has prepared a sample submission which can be downloaded HERE. Church organisations or individuals can copy/paste the submission, or use it to prepare their own submission, and then e-mail the submission to hatecrimes@justice.gov.za.
  • Sign the Petition at HERE and share as far and wide as possible!
  • Pray!
Source: FOR SA (Freedom of Religion South Africa)
Date Added: 2017-01-26
Category: General News,  Issues - Politics,  Issues - Freedom of Religion, 
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