LIVERPOOL, England - A Christian couple in England is now at risk of losing their business after being prosecuted for debating Islam with a Muslim guest.
Police arrested Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang...
LIVERPOOL, England - A Christian couple in England is now at risk of losing their business after being prosecuted for debating Islam with a Muslim guest.
Police arrested Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang, who run the Bounty House Hotel in Liverpool, after a Muslim woman complained that she was offended by comments made to her in March. Because the legal case is ongoing the couple cannot comment publicly.
According to newspaper reports, the debate at the hotel involved discussion of whether Jesus was the son of God or just a minor prophet of Islam. Newspapers also reported the debate included comments that Mohammed was a warlord and Muslim dress for women was a form of bondage.
The facts of the case are disputed, according to Mike Judge of the Christian Institute, a legal organization helping fund the couple's defense.
He says it's important that Christians defend their right to talk about their faith.
"Freedom of speech is something that is protected in England. But it is being eroded and there are cases of Christians now being told by police officers that they are not allowed to express their religious beliefs," he said. "This has caused the couple serious financial harm. The hotel has seen an 80 percent drop in its income, because a local hospital used to book its local outpatients there."
"As a result of this case and the criminal charges that have been put against these Christians, the hospital has decided not to send its outpatients there anymore," he continued.
Despite that, Judge says the couple has been overwhelmed by the support they've received from Christians around the world.
"They've been tremendously encouraged by hundreds and hundreds of Christians from all over the world emailing them to say, 'we're standing, we're praying with you, we're horrified that this is happening to you and we hope that you succeed in your legal defense,'" he said.
The pair is being prosecuted for a public order offense, when someone feels insulted for their membership of a religious group.
Judge says the case raises significant free speech and religious liberty issues.
"The reason this case is so important is that the freedom to share the Gospel in a Christian country really needs to be paramount and if people can't get involved in a debate about religion then we are losing our freedom of speech," he said. "This is not just an issue that we're facing in Britain, but we're facing it in other Western countries as well and Christians across those nations have to stand together to defend our freedom of speech."
A criminal trial is set for December 8at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.
If convicted the couple could face a maximum fine of $8,000. They'll also have a criminal record.
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This guy is also an example of "hate speech", who cannot wait to bash our prophets Jesus and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them both) by going against their true teaching of "Forgiving your enemies" and "Loving even your enemies." You praise by doing lip service instead of living by the words of Jesus, it looks like.
Jesus H.Christ (your Savior as well) was very specific about following False prophets, which is what you are doing. You can send whatever insults you want. It does nor change the fact that you must be re-born in Christiuanity before you will see the Kingdom of Heaven. Stop this apostate, kaffir, infidel and blasphemy and Accept Jesus H. Christ as your Lord. I shall continue to proay for your misguided soul. Peace be onto Him The Lord of all, His Name is Jesus H. Christ
Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, is NOT god nor a son of god and as he himself used to prostrate in worship of God. Jesus also said in the bible that the most important thing in the bible is knowing your Lord God is One. (not three) Jesus refused to even to be called "good" even less to be called, "The Lord" and he made himself known that God is greater than himself and nothing that he did was out of his own will but will of God. I accept Jesus of Nazareth as one of the prophets.
Do not blaspheme. Accept Jesus H. Christ (Peace be onto Him) as your Lord and Savior for the sake of your soul and eternity. Jesus will forgive the apostate, kaffir, infidel islamic blasphemers and give them His love and kindness. I shall continue to pray for you.
Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him and on her mother Mary, didn't come to save the world nor does he have ability to save himself. It is God who guides and saves mankind, and your prayer is no more than dust blowing in the wind in the hereafter if you continue to blaspheme, and refuse to accept God as your true savior and Muhammad as the last of the prophets of God almighty.
Actually, if you look carefully the Dark ages were felt by the Europeans while the same time it was the Golden age for Muslims who brought culture, science, medicine, and astronomy that later fueled the Renaissance in Europe. Cultured and open society should be open to Islam, and not try to stereotype it but rather try to understand its true teachings. Cultured and educated society should know the difference between Hate speech and free speech.
no MATTHER WHAT U KUFFAR CUNTS DO ISLAM WILL DOMIN8ATE ENGLAND - EUROP - THE WORLD BLAKK FLAGGS OVER EVRY BUILDING!! EVRY CROSS BROKEN!!! ALL WORLD SUBMIT TO ISLAM!!! REVERT TO ISLAM OR FAYSE CONSEQUENSES!!!!
EVRY TIME U TRIED TO DOMINATE ISLAM - BYZANTINE - PERSIA - WE CONQERED U!!!!! WE LOVE DEATH MOR THAN LIVES SO HOW YOU WILL WIN????
UR CULTURE IS SICK AND NEED ISLAM WITH UR DRUNKEN PROSTITUTE PORN FATHERS RAPING OWN DAUGTERS!!!! ISLAM IS ONLY ANSWER!!!
Then please explain to me why many of the terrorists who have attacked the west also inebriated themselves in nightclubs and slept with prostitutes before they committed their attacks? Why is it that imams try and use delinquents for their own aim? Not to teach them to follow a righteous path, but instead use their perversity towards the path of murder? You hypocrite.
On top of this, the Moors, among many other middle eastern civilizations, developed sophisticated technologies in spite of their "religion". What does islam have to do with adopting classical science and technology, modifying and advancing it? That is called human ingenuity. The muslim leaders saw this as a means of wealth, could not care less about a God they probably saw as a superstition to appease the masses. Stop speaking foolishness you fanatics.
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This guy is also an example of "hate speech", who cannot wait to bash our prophets Jesus and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them both) by going against their true teaching of "Forgiving your enemies" and "Loving even your enemies." You praise by doing lip service instead of living by the words of Jesus, it looks like.
Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, is NOT god nor a son of god and as he himself used to prostrate in worship of God. Jesus also said in the bible that the most important thing in the bible is knowing your Lord God is One. (not three) Jesus refused to even to be called "good" even less to be called, "The Lord" and he made himself known that God is greater than himself and nothing that he did was out of his own will but will of God. I accept Jesus of Nazareth as one of the prophets.
Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him and on her mother Mary, didn't come to save the world nor does he have ability to save himself. It is God who guides and saves mankind, and your prayer is no more than dust blowing in the wind in the hereafter if you continue to blaspheme, and refuse to accept God as your true savior and Muhammad as the last of the prophets of God almighty.
Actually, if you look carefully the Dark ages were felt by the Europeans while the same time it was the Golden age for Muslims who brought culture, science, medicine, and astronomy that later fueled the Renaissance in Europe. Cultured and open society should be open to Islam, and not try to stereotype it but rather try to understand its true teachings. Cultured and educated society should know the difference between Hate speech and free speech.
KUFFAR CUNTS DO
ISLAM WILL DOMIN8ATE
ENGLAND - EUROP - THE WORLD
BLAKK FLAGGS OVER EVRY BUILDING!!
EVRY CROSS BROKEN!!!
ALL WORLD SUBMIT TO ISLAM!!!
REVERT TO ISLAM OR FAYSE CONSEQUENSES!!!!
EVRY TIME U TRIED TO DOMINATE ISLAM - BYZANTINE - PERSIA - WE CONQERED U!!!!! WE LOVE DEATH MOR THAN LIVES SO HOW YOU WILL WIN????
UR CULTURE IS SICK AND NEED ISLAM WITH UR DRUNKEN PROSTITUTE PORN FATHERS RAPING OWN DAUGTERS!!!! ISLAM IS ONLY ANSWER!!!
ALLAHU AKBAR!!!