Cherie Blair has been reported to the office overseeing judges' behaviour for apparently sentencing a man convicted of assault more leniently because he was religious. The National Secular Society wrote to the Judicial Complaints Office on Friday complaining that Mrs Blair -- a prominent Roman Catholic -- suspended the six-month prison sentence passed on Shamso Miah, a Muslim who broke a stranger's jaw in row over a bank queue, on the ground that he was devout. "We think this is discriminatory and unjust and we wish to make a formal complaint about it," wrote Terry Sanderson, the president of the NSS. Today Mr Sanderson told The Times that the complaints office had acknowledged his letter and confirmed that it was going to investigate the case.
Cherie Blair has been reported to the office overseeing judges' behaviour for apparently sentencing a man convicted of assault more leniently because he was religious.
The National Secular Society wrote to the Judicial Complaints Office on Friday complaining that Mrs Blair -- a prominent Roman Catholic -- suspended the six-month prison sentence passed on Shamso Miah, a Muslim who broke a stranger's jaw in row over a bank queue, on the ground that he was devout.
"We think this is discriminatory and unjust and we wish to make a formal complaint about it," wrote Terry Sanderson, the president of the NSS.
Today Mr Sanderson told The Times that the complaints office had acknowledged his letter and confirmed that it was going to investigate the case.
There are perhaps two issues here.The allegation of discrimination is serious. However, there is no actual evidence in this case that an atheist would have received less favourable treatment in seeking to similarly mitigate their sentence.An allegation of discrimination needs more than an "implication" of words which may not even be reported correctly or may even be taken out of context.
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New Humanist (Rationalist Association) - discussing humanism, rationalism, atheism and free thought
Here, do note I am an atheist; I also dislike the Blairs generally.But there is no evidence here that Cheire Booth acted improperly in discharging her judicial function. Indeed, one would find every day judges giving mitigation for a variety of reasons based on the pleas in mitigation made in particular cases.Reported statements in court by judges can be misreported. Bad court/legal journalism is as common as bad science journalism. One should always be sceptical of court or any reporting which confirms one's prejudices.For me, unless there is evidence of discrimination (a similar crime with similar facts with good character being pleaded in mitigation, but on a non-religious basis, leading to a harsher punishment) then this appears to be a non-story.
