We are a theocracy not a democracy

22nd June 2002

The Editor

The Independent

Dear Sir,

Robert Fisk asks us to imagine Tony Blair demanding the removal or silencing of Jeremy Paxman of BBC Newsnight (5th June).

We don't have to imagine this scenario because it's already in place. Our devout Christian Prime Minister has the full weight of the law behind him in our "free" country where the Church and the state are still established. We are a theocracy, not a democracy, all the time the common law offence of blasphemous libel is still in place. It's still there in spite of the fact that the Law Commission called for the abolition of this antiquated law in 1982.

This stops Jeremy Paxman from interviewing Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University who would expose the great religious hoax on the human race in front of millions. This would upset Christians and this is not allowed to happen by law in Great Britain. No balance is allowed on media and educational outlets, especially on television. All the time the nation is screaming at footballers and getting worked up over soap operas then the people are no danger to those who have a great deal to lose from the truth.

This is completely against Article 19 of The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which demands a balance "regardless of frontiers".

"...and this is how things will remain all the time good people continue to do nothing."

Voltaire

All the top positions of power in the theocracy of Great Britain are held by those who have ruthlessly used the Judaic-Christian ladder to get there.

Yours faithfully

Michael Roll

The Campaign for Philosophical Freedom: Website: www.cfpf.org.uk

This e-mail refers to an article by Robert Fisk, "Imagine if Blair tried to force Paxman off air. In Italy, that sort of thing is about to happen", which was published in The Independent on June 5, 2002. The article was written about the Italian TV current affairs programme "Sciuscia" ("Shoeshine") and its presenter Michele Santoro.

In this article, Robert Fisk writes:

"Despite promising after his rise to power last year not to meddle in the running of the public television network, Mr Berlusconi provoked outcry with his suggestion that there should be a purge of current affairs presenters such as Mr Santoro. Again the opposition reacted with horror last month when a majority of members of the ruling coalition put their names to a motion calling for the suspension of Sciusia, and three other news programmes accused of "one sidedeness" during local election campaigning."

Read the full article on The Independent site.

Blasphemous Libel - Letter from The Law Commission to Michael Roll (June 22, 1982)

Disestablishment of the Church of England - Letter from Roger Berry, MP for Kingswood, to Michael Roll (July 18, 2002)

Time to Stand Up and Children must choose their own beliefs - two articles by Richard Dawkins