Racial and Religious Hatred Act (Amendment) Bill

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amend the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 to provide stronger and more specific penalties for incitement of hatred against religious groups defined by their religious affiliation and/or their ethnic or ethnoreligious identity, including but not limited to groups such as Judaism and the Yazidi Kurdish ethnoreligion, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Section One - Definitions

(1) In this Act, 'religious group' refers to any group of persons defined by their religious affiliation and/or their ethnic or ethnoreligious identity."

(2) In this Act, "ethnoreligious identity" shall encompass religious groups with a shared cultural, ethnic, or ancestral heritage, and identified as such by the courts.

Section Two - Amendment to Section 29B (Offences)

(1) After Section 29B(1) of the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, the following subsection is inserted:

(1a) This shall also apply to a person who uses threatening words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening hatred against a racial or religious group (defined by their religious affiliation and/or their ethnic or ethnoreligious identity) based on the fact or belief that they belong to such a group.

Section Three - Penalties

(1) In Section 29L(3)(a) of the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, replace the word “seven” with “ten”.

(2) In Section 29L(3)(b) of the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, replace the word “six” with “twelve”.

Section Four - Commencement, Short Title, and Extent

(1) This Act shall come into force three months after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Racial and Religious Hatred Act (Amendment) Act 2023.

(3) This Act extends to the United Kingdom.

This Bill was written by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, His Grace the Most Honourable Sir /u/Sephronar KG GBE KCT LVO PC MP MSP FRS, the 1st Duke of Hampshire, 1st Marquess of St Ives, 1st Earl of St Erth, 1st Baron of Truro and Conservative Party Member /u/TheDJ955 on behalf of His Majesty’s 33rd Government.

Referenced Legislation:

• Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006

Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

For many years, our country has served as a shining example of democracy, toleration, and regard for human rights. To make sure that the principles we admire are preserved for all of our residents, we must continue to work towards growth and inclusion.

The Racial and Religious Hatred Act of 2006 was a significant advance in the fight against hate crimes that target people based on their racial or religious heritage. As we move forward, it is critical to understand that some groups experience a particular type of prejudice, being singled out for attack not just because of their common religious views but also because of their shared cultural, ethnic, or ancestor background.

By revising the current Act to include religious groups characterised by their religious affiliation and/or their ethnic or ethnoreligious identity, this Bill aims to redress this gap. By adopting this, we hope to provide groups like Judaism and the Yazidi Kurdish ethnoreligion with legal protection, protecting them from hate crimes and prejudice motivated by both their shared religious beliefs and cultural heritage.

Language that reflects the variety of our country must be inclusive. This Bill will use the phrase "ethnoreligious identity" to refer to religious communities that are inextricably linked to certain cultural or ethnic heritages. By using this vocabulary, we may see that criticising someone's religious views is really criticising them as a person.

Our dedication to defending the right to free speech is unwavering, and for good reason. However, inciting animosity towards people based on their religion or cultural background has no place in our society. We must strike a compromise between the freedom of expression and the need to keep our citizens safe.

I must stress that the purpose of this amendment Bill is not to give preference to one group over another. It's about realising that some populations suffer particular difficulties and that it is our responsibility as legislators to guarantee that everyone is given the same level of legal protection.

Let's not lose sight of the principles that make up our country: tolerance, inclusion, and respect for everyone, regardless of background. By approving this amendment Bill, we show our unshakable adherence to these ideals and reaffirm our commitment to creating a cohesive community.

This division will close on 5 September 2023 at 10PM BST.