Tag: freedom of speech

Religious exemption clause in Hate Speech bill ‘will only protect sermons’

At Parliament on May 30 2018, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) attended a briefing by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice regarding the proposed Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill (“the Bill”). This briefing followed certain amendments made […]

Bougardt judgment indicates likely legal limit of religious speech

Pastor gets prison sentence for offensive remarks towards gays On Friday, 18 May 2018 Pastor Oscar Bougardt – who found himself in trouble with the law again after making certain “highly insulting, demeaning and uncharitable” statements regarding the LGBT community – was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to […]

US pro-life advocates win court victory in free speech case

Originally published in Christian Headlines On January 29 2018, a federal judge told participants in a lawsuit forcing pro-life sidewalk counsellors to defend themselves against harassment charges that leafletting is a “form of really protected speech,” and that sidewalks are recognised as the “quintessential public forum.” The words from the […]

Nigerian pastor acquitted of hate speech in UK

Originally published in Christian Concern A Christian street preacher has been acquitted of using ‘threatening and abusive language’ whilst preaching in Wood Green, London. Pastor Oluwole Ilesanmi, aged 62, had been charged concerning a sermon that he preached on June 24 2017, when a Muslim and two political activists pressed […]