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Philippines House Passes Bill To Ban Religious Labels In Reporting On Criminal Suspects

By Howard M. Friedman

A press release from the Philippines' House of Representatives reports that it has approved a proposed bill to ban newspapers, broadcast and electronic media from labelling criminal suspects (or persons convicted of crimes) as "Muslim" or "Christian", or to use any other word denoting religious, regional or ethnic affiliation in reporting on them. Violations will lead to a fine imposed on the editor-in-chief in print media, or on the news editor in broadcast or electronic mass media. Sponsors of the bill say that religious or ethnic labels create sweeping generalizations about other innocent members of the group. The bill was sponsored by the House Committee on Muslim Affairs. House Bill 100 now goes to the Philippines Senate for action.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 17, 2008 (boomark / email).