THE STRANGE CASE OF BEN AND SHARON VOGELENZANG

In December Mr & Mrs Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang will face trial. In July they were arrested and charged under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and Section 31 (1) (c) and (5) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Their arrest and the criminal charges followed on from a discussion they had with a guest at the hotel which they ran, a Muslim woman. The discussion was about religion during which it is alleged that they argued that Mohamed was a war-lord and that traditional Muslim dress is oppressive to women. Following on from this argument the woman reported the Vogelenzang’s to the police.

Now leaving aside the veracity of the arguments, a case could be made for both,[1] indeed I have made similar arguments my self, it is however surely grotesque that they should face prosecution for voicing these opinions, for in effect hurting someones feelings.

I cannot help but feel that a prosecution in this case is not somehow connected to the fact that the Vogelenzang’s are Christians and consequently an easy target in the current political climate.

I can remember not too long ago Muslin demonstrators outside Westminster Cathedral hurling insults at Christians in general and the Pope in particular. Incidentally one can only imagine the reception such a demonstration by Christians outside the Central London Mosque in Regents Park would receive!

Not that I would have had any truck with any attempt to prosecute the demonstrators outside Westminster cathedral. I would absolutely defend their right to protest on the grounds that free speech has at its very core the right to offend.

So let us offer our solidarity with the Vogelenzang’s and oppose this appalling assault on free speech. Should the Vogelenzang’s be convicted I hope they will be supported to appeal, if necessary all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

[1] I guess much would turn on the definition of ‘war-lord.’

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