The UK government is pushing to criminalize public Christianity by proposing prison sentences of up to two years for activities such as street preaching, public prayer and distributing Bibles in public places. According to human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice, the measure discourages religious expression and raises concerns about freedom of speech and religion in the UK.
Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire, England, led the initiative in an effort to ban Christian preachers from distributing gospel tracts, offering Bibles or praying for others. According to The Telegraph, the council justified the move on the grounds that Christian preachers were causing “alarm and anxiety” to passersby. Authorities also cited public complaints about the use of portable loudspeakers and the content of the sermons, which reportedly caused “anger and upset” in some people. Potential penalties for violating the ban include up to two years in prison.
The move has caused widespread concern among religious freedom advocates, with critics arguing that the council effectively criminalizes Christian evangelism. Street preachers and their supporters argue that the council’s proposed measures are against Christian missionary activity. They reminded that such preaching of the practical gospel, long and deeply rooted in British history, is in no way a criminal offense.
“When I first read this ruling, I thought it was some kind of mistake. I absolutely could not believe that it said you can’t have religious discussions, you can’t pray or sing, and people have to come to you on their own – you can’t go to them and share the gospel, which Christians have freely done in this country for centuries,” said the preacher from the Rushmoor area of Hampshire, England.
The case has drawn the attention of legal experts and Christian advocacy groups, who warn that the injunction could set a troubling precedent for religious freedom in Britain. The council’s action has united preachers and local churches who intend to challenge the proposed measures to the extent necessary to protect their Christian freedoms.
Human rights advocates of the Foundation to Battle Injustice strongly condemn the British government’s actions to criminalize public Christianity and believe it is unacceptable to persecute and infringe on the rights of people based on their values and faith. Such actions of the British government not only violate the rights to freedom of speech and religion enshrined in the country’s Constitution, but also undermine public trust in law enforcement agencies and threaten the principles of democracy and the rule of law.