Tag: Hate Speech Bill
Revised Hate Speech Bill open for comment
The call for comments on the revised draft of the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill has been extended to February 15, reports Freedom of Religion (FOR SA). Commenting on the Bill, FOR SA says clause 4(1) makes “hate speech” a crime– with potentially dire repercussions from […]
‘Hate Speech Bill in danger of being rushed through’
On Tuesday August 28 the latest version of the controversial Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill was published for public comment (https://pmg.org.za/call-for-comment/727/), reports Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA). The original draft of the Bill received over 70 000 submissions, with many labelling it “draconian” (https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2018-03-13-draconian-hate-crimes-bill-will-destroy-freedom-of-speech/) and a “threat […]
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 […]
Lack of transparency on ‘Hate Speech Bill’ a concern, says For SA
The surprise tabling of the contentious ‘Hate Speech Bill’ in parliament this week raises serious religious freedom concerns writes Advocate Nadene Badenhorst of Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) in this special report. It has come to our attention that the controversial draft Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes […]
Double standards on free speech — Michael Swain
In a recent “open letter”, Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest tennis players of the modern era and a well-known LGBT activist, slammed former tennis great Margaret Court for her comments on same-sex marriage and an article she wrote expressing concern that a child born to a high profile lesbian […]
Free to say ‘gay is not okay’?
John Qwelane’s case is an important one for freedom of speech writes Advocate Nadene Badenhorst in this special report on the issues and implications of this high-profile hate speech hearing. After many years, the controversial case of Qwelane v Minister for Justice & Others finally came before the Johannesburg High […]
Deputy Justice Minister admits ‘Hate Speech Bill’ too broad
Redraft of proposed legislation good news for religious freedom Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffrey this week conceded that the controversial Hate Speech Bill was ‘overbroad’ and should be reconsidered taking into account concerns raised by the religious sector. He was addressing religious leaders at a meeting in Cape Town […]
Church and Press have role to defend freedom of speech
The Church and the Press are two fundamental pillars of civil society that stand for freedom of speech. Our recent history is a clear example of the important role that the Church and the media played in the struggle against Apartheid. In fact, at one stage the Church was the […]
