THE SCOTTISH first minister has been accused by church and legal figures of rushing through legislation to combat religious bigotry, including new offences such as the use of social media to spread sectarian hatred.
The Scottish government yesterday unveiled a bill which introduces a five-year maximum jail sentence and unlimited fines for football fans who sing bigoted songs on the terraces, or for anyone who uses the internet to incite religious hatred or sends threats, such as live bullets, by post.
Alex Salmond is determined to circumvent Holyrood’s lengthy scrutiny of legislation to have the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill in place for the start of the season in July.
Roseanna Cunningham, the community safety minister, said the push was needed because of the violence, bigotry and disorder both on and off the field which marred several Scottish Premier League matches last season, particularly those involving Celtic and Rangers.
Events demanded immediate action. “There is no pot of fairy dust – I cannot sprinkle Scotland and have it change overnight,” Ms Cunningham said.
The Rt Rev David Arnott, the moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, the church’s ruling body, said sectarianism in Scotland was a wider social and cultural problem, which needed much more sophisticated action.
“The speed at which it is being rushed through means it appears to lack scrutiny and clarity,” he added.
Bill McVicar, convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s criminal law committee, said: “Without consultation there is the risk that the legislation . . . does not meet its objective or is inconsistent with existing law, making it unworkable.” – (Guardian service)