The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 amends the Public Order Act 1986 to create a new offence of inciting hatred against a person on the grounds of their religion. The Act was introduced to address the increasing concerns about religious intolerance, aiming to protect individuals from hatred, violence, and discrimination based on religious beliefs while balancing the right to freedom of expression.
This Act makes it an offence to use threatening words or behaviour, or to display any written material which is threatening if there is an intent to stir up religious hatred. The law specifically targets behaviour that intends to incite religious hatred and does not extend to merely insulting or abusive words or behaviour, thereby protecting freedom of speech. It aims to protect individuals from violence and discrimination based on religion while ensuring that freedom of expression is not unduly restricted.
This Act is currently in force and serves as a fundamental legal safeguard against religious hatred in the UK. Businesses, educational institutions, media outlets, and other organisations must understand and adhere to this law to promote a respectful and legally compliant environment.
