Robert Jenrick is fighting against blasphemy laws returning through the back door.
Robert Jenrick posted to X:
I’ve written to the Chief Inspector of the CPS Inspectorate asking for an urgent review of the lawfulness of prosecuting a man for “offending Islam.”
Blasphemy laws were abolished in Britain for good reason. They must not return through the back door.
Robert Jenrick's letter in full:
RT HON ROBERT JENRICK MP
Mr Anthony Rogers HMCPSI
7th Floor, Tower
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9GL
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SW1A 0AA
08 May 2025
Dear Chief Inspector,
It is scarcely believable that in 2025-seventeen years after Parliament abolished the crime of blasphemy- a man now stands charged for the apparent offence of offending Islam.
As you will be aware, in 2008 Parliament took the deliberate and principled step of abolishing the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel, after centuries of encroachment on free expression. That was not an incidental legal change. It was a declaration that, in a free society, no religion- Christianity, Islam or otherwise-shall be shielded by criminal law from insult, irreverence or ridicule. Heresy is not a crime in modern Britain.
Yet on 13 February 2025, a man was arrested for burning a Quran in public. He has now been charged with a religiously aggravated public order offence under sections 31(1)(b) and (4) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Most concerningly, the charge sheet states that he acted "with intent to cause against the religious institution of Islam harassment, alarm or distress".
Whilst I am not privy to all the facts of the individual case, this wording is legally incoherent and contrary to the express will of Parliament. The 'religious institution of Islam' is not a natural person, nor a legal one. It cannot be caused "harassment, alarm or distress" within the meaning of section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986, which underpins the aggravated offence. That the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police have allowed a charge to proceed in this form suggests either a basic misunderstanding of the law, or a disturbing political impulse to insulate Islam from criticism-however offensive-from protest.
It must not be for the police or Crown prosecutors to circumvent Parliament's will by prosecuting religious dissent under laws never intended for that purpose. I therefore urge you, as the Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, to:
1. Review the lawfulness and appropriateness of the charge brought;
2. Clarify whether the Crown Prosecution Service received any representations from foreign governments or religious organisations in relation to this matter;
3. Issue formal guidance to ensure that public order laws are not misapplied to revive blasphemy offences through prosecutorial discretion.
Rather than immediately raising this matter in Parliament I considered it appropriate to allow you an opportunity to comment on this issue. You no doubt appreciate the urgency of the matter.
This case goes to the heart of what it means to live in a free country. I trust you will treat it with the seriousness it deserves.
Robert Jenrick
From the Member of Parliament for the Newark Constituency
including Balderton, Bingham, Collingham, East Bridgford, East Markham, Lowdham, Newark, Southwell and Tuxford.
https://twitter.com/RobertJenrick/status/1920774567632490906
