Blastphemy trial against BBC finishes

LONDON -- A court hearing about whether a Christian activist can prosecute British state broadcaster BBC under blasphemy laws wound up Wednesday.

Stephen Green of Christian Voice is targeting BBC Director-General Mark Thompson and Jon Thoday.

Thoday is the producer of musical "Jerry Springer-The Opera," which the BBC aired in 2005. Green argues the show is blasphemous, likening Jesus to "the perv in a nappy."

Based on Jerry Springer's brash talk show, the musical depicts Jesus being referred to as "a little bit gay" and features Eve attempting to fondle his genitals.

Green's lawyer Michael Gledhill argued "Jerry Springer-The Opera" never would have been staged or aired in Britain had it been a satire about Islam, not Christianity.

"No theater would have produced it. Neither would the BBC have broadcast it," he said.

But David Pannick, representing Thompson, said freedom of expression was integral to British society just as religious beliefs were.

The BBC's decision to air the show led to demonstrations and a record number of complaints from viewers and ignited debate about whether freedom of speech should take precedence over religious sensitivities.

Civil liberties group Liberty, which made a written submission in the case, called Britain's blasphemy law "outdated" and "ripe for repeal," and argued that the offense of blasphemy violated the European Convention on Human Rights.