Has Britain Lost Its Mind? Political Correctness Gone Mad

“Christian couple face losing hotel after criminal charges for offending Muslim woman

By John Bingham, The Telegraph, Sept 20 2009( link)

“A Christian Couple face losing their livelihood after being charged with a criminal offence for offending a Muslim woman by saying that Islamic dress is oppressive.

Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang are awaiting trial accused of breaching public order by insulting a guest at their hotel in Aintree, Liverpool, about her religion.

A Christian Couple face losing their livelihood after being charged with a criminal offence for offending a Muslim woman by saying that Islamic dress is oppressive.

The couple, who are members of an evangelical congregation, were arrested by police after getting into a discussion with the woman about the differences between Christianity and Islam earlier this year.

Mrs Vogelenzang, 54, is understood to have described Muslim dress as putting women into “bondage” while her husband, 53, allegedly described the Prophet Mohammed as a “warlord”.

The Christian Institute, which is finding the Vogelenzangs’ defence, said that the case showed that Christians are suffering growing “persecution” by officials who use the law to prevent them speaking about their faith.

It is understood that the couple’s business, the Bounty House Hotel in Aintree, has suffered a major drop in takings because of the case.

Friends said that they had seen bookings fall by up to 80 per cent after a local hospital stopped an arrangement in which it recommended the hotel to people attending courses there after hearing that the owners were facing criminal charges.

Although the couple have told friends that they understood the hospital’s position, they fear they could end up losing their business.

“It is just a consequence of the case that not only are they worrying about criminal charges but they may also lose their business,” said Mike Judge, a spokesman for the institute.

It is understood that the argument happened on the last day of the woman’s stay at the hotel in March when she appeared in Muslim dress.

The woman, who has not been named, is said to have told them that Jesus is considered a “minor prophet” in Islam while the debate also touched on the status of Mohammed.

The guest complained to Merseyside Police who called the couple in for an interview. They were questioned twice before being charged with a religiously aggravated public order offence.

They appeared before magistrates last week where they denied the charges and are due to go on trial later this year. If found guilty they face a fine and a criminal record.

Mr Vogelenzang denies calling the Prophet Mohammed a “warlord”. It is understood that his wife accepts that she used the word “bondage” about Islamic dress but denies deliberately causing offence.

“Even if the court accepts that these things were said, I have read this sort of thing in many western criticisms of Islam,” said Mr Judge.

“If we are really saying that someone can’t express that without having their collar felt by the police I think we are in a very worrying situation for freedom of speech.”

He added: “There is a persecution of Christians and I think public officials are misusing the law in that way.”

Merseyside Police confirmed that the couple have been charged with religiously a aggravated public order offence.”

Comment - This sentence, in my view, summarises very well what is going on in today’s country: “A spirit of silence “shushes”  Britain, I see a finger pressed against her adulterous lips.” (excerpt from a prophetic word given in 2007)