An Abertay University lecturer has launched an online petition to protest against anti-sectarian legislation he claims will be the most authoritarian law in British history.
Dr Stuart Waiton, a criminology and sociology lecturer, claims plans by the Scottish Government to introduce jail sentences of up to five years for anyone found guilty of abusive and sectarian behaviour while watching football are a draconian assault on civil liberties.
The laws would apply to anyone watching football, whether they are at a stadium, in a pub or even just commenting online.
Last week First Minister Alex Salmond announced that the bill would be put on hold for six months amid concerns about the speed at which it was being rushed through parliament.
However, even with that delay, the Scottish Government hopes to have the law on the statute books by the end of year.
Dr Waiton, a Sunderland supporter, founded Take A Liberty (Scotland) to campaign against laws he believes encroach on civil liberties. So far over 1200 people have signed the petition opposing the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill.
Dr Waiton said the law would not just target Celtic and Rangers supporters but will affect every fan in the country.
“As far as I can tell, there are already all sorts of laws they can use to deal with any things,” he said. “One real problem that has been missed by all the commentators about this is that terms like hate and bile relate to how the Scottish Government and the political and media elite view Celtic and Rangers fans.
“Football is tribal and part of what fans do at matches is have a partisan allegiance to one side. The argument being presented is that if you act in a way that could cause public disorder when the police are not around then you can be prosecuted.
“It’s like saying if Alex Salmond is having a nice glass of sherry then has a disagreement with his wife then it could spill over into domestic violence.”
The new legislation was introduced following a series of high-profile football-related sectarian incidents last season, including suspected parcel bombs being sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and high-profile supporters of the club.
But Dr Waiton said the proposed law is an assault on freedom of speech and that people across Scotland, whether football supporters or not, are uneasy about its implications.
“What’s interesting about that is they are saying that if somebody comes over and hits you in the face in because you are singing then it is you that is responsible. That’s a very interesting excuse,” he said.
Continued…
“I think it is absolutely a freedom of speech issue. It is the most authoritarian law in British history that you can get five years in prison for singing a song.
“We have had 1200 signatures already with only a very small amount of publicity. There’s a big range of people from loyalists to people concerned about freedom of speech.”
Dr Waiton added that he does not believe politicians have properly scrutinised what the implications of the law will be for civil liberties and freedom of speech.
“I’m a Sunderland fan (referred to by their north-east of England rivals as Mackems) so I have no particular allegiance to either side,” he said. “I started up the website Take A Liberty (Scotland), which is really just trying to look at the way society is becoming increasingly regulated.
“There is a problem of fundamental freedoms being taken away. There has been no real opposition to this. Politicians are not disagreeing with the principle they are just arguing about the technicalities.
“But, if you talk to ordinary people a large minority, if not the majority, think it is insane so there is a huge separation between politicians and what ordinary people think.”
He said sectarian violence has little to do with football, despite the trouble that has blighted several Old Firm games.
“If you look at the statistics about religions then, even in Glasgow, nobody takes it seriously,” he said. “No one singing IRA songs or Billy Boys has a serious affiliation to the principles of their church. Religion is used to give the argument a moral weight, but it’s not true.
“It’s been used to connect singing with the attacks on Neil Lennon, which suggests that 50,000 Rangers fans are potential nail bombers.”