ASA accused of “sinister threat to freedom of expression”
Share
The National Secular Society (NSS) has accused the advertising watchdog of “reintroducing the blasphemy law” following its decision to ban the Antonio Federici ice cream advert showing two priests about to kiss.
The secularists are calling on communications minister Ed Vaizey to investigate the Advertising Standards Authority’s decision to ban the ad which shows two men dressed as priests about to kiss with the strapline: “We Believe in Salvation”.
In a letter to Vaizey The National Secular Society says that banning the “mildly humorous and satirical” ads “represents something much more sinister”.
It goes on to say: “We have now reached the stage where any reference to religion that is not completely reverential is immediately branded as “offensive” and therefore unacceptable. This is an intolerable threat to freedom of expression that must be challenged.
The organisation adds that banning the campaign for being offensive to Catholics on the basis of six complaints equates to reintroducing the blasphemy law in Britain.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, says: “The Advertising Standards Agency - which is elected by no-one and seems to be answerable to no-one - has reinstated the law unilaterally.”
“Anyone who has seen the Antonio Federici ads knows that they are mildly humorous, in no way threatening, abusive or insulting. It is entirely wrong that these advertisements have been banned by such an unaccountable body, which needs to be reined in.”
The ASA had no comment.
It is the third ad campaign from the ice cream company that has been banned by the ASA. The others showed a pregnant nun eating ice cream and a nun kissing a priest.
YouGov Insight:
Ice Cream
· Ice cream is a staple household item, with 4 out of 5 households consuming it
· Family tubs or cartons are by far the most popular format of ice cream. They offer consumers value for money and are ideal as a “store cupboard” standby.
· There is a definite gender split to the format of ice cream eaten, with men most likely to eat bars and family size tubs and women most likely to eat all other formats.
· Men are more likely to eat ice cream all year round than women are, whilst women are more likely to eat ice cream in hot weather.
· Flavour is the key factor determining what ice cream consumers buy and is particularly important to those in the ABC1 social grade.
Click here for more information on this YouGov market report
Readers' comments (4)
Keith | Thu, 28 Oct 2010 2:52 pm
There seems to be an unjustified assumption by the Advertising Standards Authority that the Organised Religions have higher standards of morality and ethics than the non religious.There is no evidence of this or to justify these organisations being entitled to any special privileges or be immune from critical exposure. The Organised Religions do keep to doctrines but again there is no evidence this is a good thing since some tenets and practises of the Organised Religions are against EU and UK law. The organised religions look to be giving daily offence to the non religious who do have the same rights when offended, or we do not live in a Democracy.The ASA seems to be imposing its own form of religious dictat on the electorate.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Stuart Hartill | Thu, 28 Oct 2010 8:19 pm
The funniest thing about this fiasco is that it suggests the church has a lower opinion of priests and nuns than the rest of us sinners.
The ads fairly obviously work on the assumption that most of us think priests and nuns are, generally, decent folk and far above 'worldly' temptations, but that the ice cream is so delicious that even they are tempted.
By comparison, it seems to be the church that is worried that such paragons of virtue might have lower standards, and that the ads might draw attention to that.
How bizarre!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Alan Crowe | Thu, 28 Oct 2010 9:02 pm
It's obvious Catholics just don't like Ice Cream. :-)
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Gerry | Sun, 31 Oct 2010 8:44 am
The NSS are such a bunch of idiots. It's hard of think of an organisation more patronising.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment