Sean Fecht concerts in Canada: between censorship and freedom of expression

Without drum. Meanwhile, trumpet, a thunderous concert of protests stifled the Canadian tour of the controversial singer and American preacher Sean Fecht. Furthermore, Despite the indigestible tone of his message, the censorship movement against him occurred in a worrying way.

Flecht’s work. Meanwhile, if we can speak like this, is devoid of merit – and it is not because the singer abuses banjo in his performances. Nevertheless, Notorious figure of the evangelical right. For example, supporter of Trumpism and fallen candidate in the primaries of 2020, Fecht conveys disturbing ideas, halfway between retrograde religious proselytism and conspiracy theory. Meanwhile, He notably associated the LGBTQ+ community with Satanism. Meanwhile, a variant of the conspiratorial theory which usually puts democrats in the camp of diabolical pedophiles. In addition, He also spoke out against the right to abortion, qualifying his supporters as “demons”. However, sean fecht concerts canada: between He even pleads for the merger of the Church. For example, the State, a recurring theme over the centuries for the fundamentalists of all ilk.

We would laugh at it. For example, if it was not the persistent rise of these extremist voices in public debate, especially in the United States, where the wildest ideas receive the support of elected officials in the republican camp.

As part of his Canadian tour. Moreover, Feucht allegedly begged his beaks in front of a sparse audience, but that was to count without the ingenuity of the authorities in viral marketing: six cities, including Quebec, Montreal and Gatineau, prevented the holding of his shows, sometimes in the name of security, sometimes by reprobation of the singer’s words.

It goes without saying that public funds should not be used to encourage this kind of character. But by wanting to dismiss it completely. the authorities gave Flecht an unexpected sean fecht concerts canada: between visibility so that he can appropriate the role of the martyr. The case of Montreal is particularly interesting. Despite the objections of the Plante administration, an evangelical church of 700 faithful, Ministerios Restaurant, welcomed the Flecht concert. This audacity is now worth a fine of $ 2500 instead of worship. because it did not have a license to organize the concert.

Regulatory arguments should not be fooled on the intentions of the municipal administration. The cabinet of the mayor. Valérie Plante, decreed that the spectacle was going “against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect advocated in Montreal”. His spokesperson. Philippe Massé, took care to recall the importance of freedom of expression, while recalling that hateful and discriminatory words were “unacceptable” in the metropolis.

Very well. But when it is time to trace the fine. delicate limit between the protection of the right to freedom of expression and the repression of hate sean fecht concerts canada: between speech, it is abnormal that these decisions are unilaterally taken by a municipal administration with selective indignation or, even worse, by the police for opaque security reasons.

There is no place for hate speech in the public early. Anyone who encourages hatred against an identifiable group is liable to criminal accusations. There is an exception -. not the least – protecting prosecution a person who expressed in good faith an opinion on a religious subject or based on a religious text in which he believes. This exemption has aroused strong criticism from the chief of the Bloc Québécois. Yves-François Blanchet, who was unable to convince Ottawa to act to close this “complacent breach”.

The Canadian legal framework resists the temptation to make a hierarchy of constitutional rights. Rather, they are in permanent competition compared to each other. In matters of freedom of expression. the courts have repeatedly recognized that this right has sean fecht concerts canada: between encompassed unpopular or offensive ideas, and the words that shock or disturb. The bar is very high to enter the category of hate speech.

Maybe Sean Fecht has exceeded the limits. If this is the case. it will also be necessary to act against rappers and masculinist influencers who convey the worst misogynist shots. It will undoubtedly be necessary to inspect churches. mosques and synagogues to flush out the outrageous preachers who could spit against the wind of modernity. We will need a font of thought, well established and well funded, because the work will not miss.

There was another way of managing the Sean Feucht file. using the tools in place: file a complaint to the police, to make a good and due investigation, to rely on the standard of judicial control to separate what relates to freedom of expression and hate speech. By having both judges. parties of the situation, sean fecht concerts canada: between the municipal and police authorities have walked these principles in a disturbing way, which has more to do with the culture of cancellation than with the protection of civil freedoms.

Sean fecht concerts canada: between

To watch in video