BBC’s Nicky Campbell: Christians feel persecuted by human rights law and councils

Christians in Britain are feeling persecuted because of “paradoxical” human rights laws and the ignorance of local councils, according to a major BBC documentary to be broadcast on Easter Sunday.

By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent

Published: 10:16AM BST 31 Mar 2010

 

Nicky Campbel Photo: BBC

Nicky Campbell, the presenter of the corporation’s flagship programme for Holy Week, argues that Labour’s anti-discrimination legislation has led to clashes between religious conscience and equality for homosexuals.

He blames local authorities for rebranding Christmas celebrations as winter festivals because of a misguided belief that they are standing up for minority faiths.

Campbell, the Radio 5 Live presenter, also highlights the French and Russian revolutions as examples of what can happen when religion is pushed out of public life.

He concludes that although Christians do not face violence and suppression in Britain as they do abroad, their treatment can seem unfair in a modern democracy.

Campbell says: “So, are Christians being persecuted? No they’re not being tortured or killed like Christians in Pakistan and the Sudan.

“But a minority believes they are being sidelined and victimised. By the standards of a liberal society that can feel like persecution.”

However he adds that this may be a “source of strength” for churchgoers, who thrived in ancient Rome in the face of persecution.

The hour-long programme, called Are Christians Being Persecuted?, looks into widespread claims that the faith is being driven out of public life in Britain while its followers are being treated less fairly than minority groups.

After watching this programme last night, I could only conclude that Christians in the UK are not persecuted. Persecution is what happens in places like Iran, where Baha'is (and Christians too, no doubt) are in fear of their lives, are chucked out of jobs and universities and schools because of their faith; where the faith's leadership is held in prison for prolonged periods on spurious charges and face trial in a court that does not follow anything like due process; where Baha'is are legally defined as "unprotected infidels" and can be murdered with impunity.

That's persecution.

Some Christians in the UK do appear to be facing forms of discrimination. Some of this may arise because of one-sided and over-zealous application of equalities legislation in such a way that the human right of "Freedom of conscience, thought and religion" is played down in favour of other human rights.

Describing the anti-discrimination laws brought in “to make Britain a more tolerant society” by protecting religious believers as well as homosexuals, the presenter claims: “The paradox is that these same laws that have left some Christians feeling like a persecuted minority.

“The problem is the legislation never made clear what would happen in the event of a clash. Whose human right would take priority over the other?”

Campbell cites the terror and totalitarianism that sprung up in France and Russia after their revolutions abolished religion and says: “The guiding principle of ‘liberalism’ - a commitment to tolerance ... to live and let live, has an inherent flaw.

“It’s less inclined to argue against strong competing ideologies – religious or otherwise.”