Price of freedom: £200k and rising

The free speech pug dog trial has attracted global attention, with the defendant escaping a custodial sentence and being fined £800 – which he intends not to pay.

A large sum has been raised to fight further.

But how about a case of compelled speech? Consider being legally forced to say or write or publish something which you do not agree with due to deeply held beliefs. Pretty absurd, eh!

Let me give five scenarios. ● A Muslim printer asked to produce cartoons of Mohammed. If he refuses he is sued because his religious motive is religion or belief discrimination. ● An atheist web designer is asked by a Christian to design a website teaching God created the world in six days. If he refuses the atheist is sued for discriminating against Christianity and also because their atheism is a motivating factor. ● A satanist asks for a cake to be baked with a satanic decoration. The baker refuses and is sued because satanist beliefs are protected by religious discrimination law. ● A Catholic printer declines an order for posters demanding abortion on demand. The abortion campaigners sue for religious belief discrimination, based on the printer’s beliefs as well as their own. In Northern Ireland such a printer could also be sued for political discrimination.) ● A company run by lesbians declines an order for T-shirts saying gay marriage is an abomination. The customer takes them to court seeking damages for religious discrimination. In Northern Ireland political discrimination would also apply.

Now consider the actual case of Ashers Baking Company, asked by a gay rights activist for a cake with the message “Support Gay Marriage”.

The business is run by Christians who sincerely believe in marriage between one man and one woman. When the message was politely declined legal action ensued. A county court judge ruled Ashers had discriminated on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief and political opinion.

Ashers equitably said: “We took issue with the message, not the customer, and believe we should retain the freedom to decline business that would force us to promote a cause with which we disagree.”

The case has racked up an absurd £200,000 in legal fees thus far. It has now reached the Supreme Court. A legal expert said there would be no defence to similar actions if Ashers lose the case.

Even Peter Tatchell, who wants to defend freedom of conscience, expression and religion, said :“It is an infringement of freedom to require businesses to aid promotion of ideas to which they conscientiously object. Discrimination against people should be unlawful but not against ideas.”

Ideas crime is a variation on thought crime. Where will all this word crime madness lead? Andrew Forsyth, Glasgow