Those who want to argue that the media have nothing to fear from hate crimes laws and government imposed definitions of fairness need only to look at what is happening in the UK with an undercover documentary on extremism in British mosques.

The police have investigated and are seeking charges -- against the documentary producers.

Police are reporting Channel 4 to the media regulator Ofcom over the way an undercover programme was edited.

But charges will not be brought against preachers featured in Dispatches, which tackled claims of Islamic extremism.

West Midlands Police carried out its own inquiry into three speakers in the Undercover Mosque broadcast, and then into the programme-makers themselves.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the show "completely distorted" what the trio said, a claim Channel 4 rejects.

Kevin Sutcliffe, commissioning editor for Dispatches, said West Midlands police had produced no evidence to support their claims.

"We find it extraordinary that they have gone public on these concerns without discussing them with us first," he said.

"We believe the comments made in the film speak for themselves - several speakers were clearly shown making abhorrent and extreme comments."

He said the one-hour documentary, which was made over a nine-month period and broadcast in January, allowed comment to be seen in a fuller context.

"All the speakers featured in the film were offered a right to reply and none denied making these comments, nor have any of them complained to Ofcom to our knowledge."

Just remember, when government gets to decide what speech is hateful and what is acceptable, they will always bend over to give the benefit of the doubt to those who are seen as "diverse". on the other hand, anything perceived as an attack on those who fall into the protected classes will be fair game for persecution and prosecution.

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