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So harassing and silencing "extremist" preachers would be... fine? Is this OK? A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a pass

So harassing and silencing "extremist" preachers would be... fine? Is this OK? A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.[1] Is the law too broad only when it hits someone whose cause you care about? And how do we decide which opinions are "extremist" or may serve as justification for detention? Hey, maybe we could have courts rule on that. [1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/7668448/Christian-p...

k-mcgrady 13y ago
Sorry, my point wasn't that I thought it was ok if used to silence certain people. It was that they have a reason that a lot of people would not object to. Hate speech isn't allowed in the UK (people have been locked up for racist tweets).
blueskin_ 13y ago
>A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.[1] Sounds fine to me.
- krapp 13y ago
  Fascism always seems just when you disagree with the point of view being silenced. That's why it's so pernicious.
  - gadders 13y ago
    "First they came for the homophobes..."
andyjohnson0 13y ago
According to the article you cited, he was arrested for causing "harassment, alarm or distress" to a passer-by, who complained to a nearby police officer. He wasn't arrested for simply stating an opinion.
- girvo 13y ago
  Have you ever been arrested? The charges you end up with often have little to do with reality. I despise people like the one we are discussing, but your post isn't convincing evidence that he was doing more, to be honest.
- coldtea 13y ago
  Can the citing be any more vague? Anybody could claim "distress, harassment or alarm" -- just because he doesn't like what you're telling him.

k-mcgrady 13y ago

Sorry, my point wasn't that I thought it was ok if used to silence certain people. It was that they have a reason that a lot of people would not object to. Hate speech isn't allowed in the UK (people have been locked up for racist tweets).

blueskin_ 13y ago

>A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.[1] Sounds fine to me.

krapp 13y ago
Fascism always seems just when you disagree with the point of view being silenced. That's why it's so pernicious.
- gadders 13y ago
  "First they came for the homophobes..."

andyjohnson0 13y ago

According to the article you cited, he was arrested for causing "harassment, alarm or distress" to a passer-by, who complained to a nearby police officer. He wasn't arrested for simply stating an opinion.

girvo 13y ago
Have you ever been arrested? The charges you end up with often have little to do with reality. I despise people like the one we are discussing, but your post isn't convincing evidence that he was doing more, to be honest.
coldtea 13y ago
Can the citing be any more vague? Anybody could claim "distress, harassment or alarm" -- just because he doesn't like what you're telling him.