After protests outside the Houses of Parliament, British lawmakers Tuesday watered down a bill banning religious hate speech, then narrowly voted it into law. Prime Minister
Tony Blair wanted to make it a criminal offense to incite religious hatred through threatening words or actions, insults and abuse. Britain’s upper chamber Tuesday eliminated the ban on insults and abuse, and inserted a provision allowing proselytizing, discussion, criticism, and ridicule of religion, belief or religious practice. Full Story
