Clarke returns to religious jokes ban

New laws that critics say will outlaw religious jokes were controversially revived today.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke was publishing legislation to make it illegal to incite religious hatred, with offenders facing up to seven years in jail.

Muslim groups have long campaigned for the law, arguing that existing race relations laws do not adequately protect them from abusive attacks by

extremists. The idea

brought protest from free speech campaigners, who warned it could be used to stop criticism of religions.

Some of the strongest opposition came from comedians led by Rowan Atkinson.

Critics say there are already signs that religious groups are becoming more aggressive towards criticism.

They cite the protests held when BBC2 televised Jerry Springer: The Opera, which featured Jesus Christ wearing a nappy. There were vociferous Sikh protests against the play Behzti.

Mr Clarke is expected to promise that his new Racial and Religious Hatred Bill will exclude satire, criticism and jokes from the curbs. It is certain to face strong opposition in the Lords, as it is based on similar legislation which had to be dropped before

the general election because it could not get past peers.

The Bill will extend the 1986 Public Order Act to cover the stirring up of hatred against people of any religious faith. Supporters argue that the present law is unfair as it protects believers in faiths such as Jews and Sikhs because they are counted as racial groups, while leaving out Muslims, who come from many racial backgrounds.