A British couple is on trial and could lose their business for having a debate with a Muslim about religion.
In September police arrested Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang, owners of the Bounty House Hotel in Liverpool, after a woman filed a complaint about her conversation with them concerning whether Jesus is the Son of God or just a minor prophet of Islam. Christian Institute spokesman Mike Judge says the couple has lost 80 percent of their business since the incident. Much of that business came from a local hospital. "As a result of this case and the criminal charges that have been put against these Christians, the hospital has decided not to send its outpatients there anymore," Judge explains. "So you can imagine that's had a huge impact on Ben and Sharon's business." Judge says the case raises significant free-speech issues, as the new hate crimes law does in America. "The reason this case is so important is that the freedom to share the gospel in a Christian country, that really needs to be paramount -- and if people can't get involved in a debate about religion, then we are losing our freedom of speech," warns Judge. "And this is not just an issue that we're facing in Britain, but we're facing it in other Western countries as well." The couple's trial is scheduled for December 8 and 9. If convicted, the couple will be required to pay a hefty fine. They will also hold a criminal record.
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