Disgraceful (From Oxford Mail)

Disgraceful

10:40am Monday 7th May 2012 in Letters

I would like to say how horrified I am at your report (Wednesday’s Oxford Mail) that Julia Gasper, a UKIP candidate in the city council elections, was subject to death threats for making controversial remarks about homosexuality.

While I utterly deplore her reported remarks and totally disagree with them, at the same time I think it is absolutely disgraceful that she has been threatened in this way and is now reportedly under police protection.

We still live in what is supposed to be a free society, and sometimes we may have to put up with people saying things we very much disagree with, however annoying or upsetting we might find them.

If people are going to be intimidated into silence by the threats of special interest groups, where will it all end?

It doesn’t say much for groups who demand respect and consideration for themselves that they are prepared to ignore the rights of others to freedom of opinion and basic personal security in this way.

Also, as far as I can gather, these reports about Dr Gasper are the result of leaked emails, which indicates that some person or persons are pursuing a deliberate hate campaign against her in the most underhand and vicious way.

I find this depressing as an example of politics in Oxford and in Britain today.

I hope whoever has done this will feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves when they realise the appalling consequences of their actions.

LAURENCE HUGHES, Oxford

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