Satan fights back in Belfast (Tuesday 23 August 2005)
compiled by Mary Garboden
In June 2004, Belfast's alternative freesheet, The Vacuum, published by Factotum, caused great controversy when it published two issues themed 'God' and 'Satan'. Based on one complaint from a member of the public, some city councilors jumped on the issue, swinging their fists of Jesus-loving freedom-hating justice and denouncing the publication as "filth" that was "encouraging devil worship." These noble knights of God and Love and Light then voted to withhold an agreed funding allocation of £3,300 until the newspaper apologised. The Vacuum responded by holding a tongue-in-cheek, city-wide 'Sorry Day' last December. For previous CIRCA news items on this, see here and here.
Not content to fight back with mere sarcasm, however, Richard West, one of the paper's editors, is challenging the Council's demand for an apology in the High Court as a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. If West succeeds, this will be the first time since the Human Rights Act was established in 1998 that a local authority will be held to be in breach of an individual's or organisation's freedom of expression as protected under the legislation. The lawsuit is also a potential milestone as it comes at a time when debate over the UK's new Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill is still raging.
The case is due to take place on Tuesday 13 September 2005.
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