The Guardian: Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology ‘cult’
A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word “cult” to describe the Church of Scientology.
The unnamed 15-year-old was served the summons by City of London police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion.
Officers confiscated a placard with the word “cult” on it from the youth, who is under 18, and a case file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.
…
The incident happened during a protest against the Church of Scientology on May 10. Demonstrators from the anti-Scientology group, Anonymous, who were outside the church’s £23m headquarters near St Paul’s cathedral, were banned by police from describing Scientology as a cult by police because it was “abusive and insulting”.Writing on an anti-Scientology website, the teenager facing court said: “I brought a sign to the May 10th protest that said: ‘Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult.’
“‘Within five minutes of arriving I was told by a member of the police that I was not allowed to use that word, and that the final decision would be made by the inspector.”
A policewoman later read him section five of the Public Order Act and “strongly advised” him to remove the sign. The section prohibits signs which have representations or words which are threatening, abusive or insulting.
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[ Update: the British police have dropped charges against the kid carrying the "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult." sign. ]
[...] 20, 2008 Posted by Evil Bender in News and politics, Religion, language and lit. trackback Via Tiny Frog, I see that a teen in the UK facing prosecution for (rightly) calling Scientology a [...]
The truth is never “threatening, abusive or insulting.” It’s that simple.
And thank you for this wonderful blog Tinyfrog!
Whereas it’s perfectly acceptable for the religious clergy to rant about the cult of homosexuality and “rampant atheism.” Because, you know, that’s NOT threatening, abusive, or insulting.
Sounds like Parliament needs a serious nose-thumbing in its general direction. Someone fetch Rumpole of the Bailey!
In the UK, would I be arrested for having a sign that said:
“Religion = Large Cult
Cult = Small Religion”