A new piece of British legislation aimed at protecting gay rights is concerning religious groups- Muslims, Christians, and Jews, on the basis of "moral grounds" that they feel threaten the collective "freedom of conscience."

The rules, which are in line with European Union requirements, will punish businesses and organisations which discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation. Hotels which refuse to let double rooms to gay couples could, for example, be taken to court.

Nadia Lipsey, a spokesperson from the Board of Deputies gave a statement on behalf of Britain's Jewish community:

"It must be possible for people to live their lives in the manner in which they choose as long as it does not impinge upon the rights of others.

"We hope that to this effect the regulations will be framed in such a way that allows for both the effective combating of discrimination in the provision of goods and services whilst respecting freedom of conscience and conviction."

Speaking for the Muslim community, Dr. Majid Katme, of the Islamic Medical Association called for Muslims "to join our Christian friends in their campaign against the new proposed law on sexual orientation." He elaborated further with: "It is against our religious rights and against our human rights and against our conscience and religious beliefs to have this new unjust law forced on all of us British Muslims."

Note, in the above paragraph, the glaring absence of the word jew.