Rowan Atkinson attacks proposed terrorism law

The comedian Rowan Atkinson has attacked David Blunkett's anti-terrorism Bill, claiming it would severely restrict artistic expression and could result in the imprisonment of some comedians.

The offence of incitement to religious hatred is central to the proposed law presented to Parliament by the Home Secretary on Monday. It was introduced at the request of religious leaders to protect minority groups during the current conflict.

But Atkinson, the star of the Blackadder television series, says in a letter to The Times: "Having spent a substantial part of my career parodying religious figures from my own Christian background, I am aghast at the notion that it could, in effect, be made illegal to imply ridicule of a religion or to lampoon religious figures."

He adds: "I have always believed that there should be no subject about which one cannot make jokes, religion included."

He claims that under the proposed legislation films such as Monty Python's The Life of Brian, which provoked an outcry for its "anti-Christian" content, would be outlawed.

A scene in Not the Nine O'Clock News in which worshippers in a mosque are shown bowing in prayer under the caption: "And the search goes on for the Ayatollah Khomeini's contact lens" would also have fallen foul of the censors, he says.

Mr Atkinson says: "I believe the reaction of the audience should decide the appropriateness of a joke, not the law."