Arrow Books Ltd, & Torture, Rape, & Murder

EDM number 312 in 1992-93, proposed by Ann Winterton on 23/06/1992.

That this House deplores the publication by Arrow Books Limited, of the novel 'Juliette' by Marquis de Sade; notes with deep concern that this book both glorifies and positively advocates the torture, rape and murder of babies, children and adult women and men including the inmates of prisons and patients in mental hospitals; regrets that the Director of Public Prosecutions decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the publishers of this book under the terms of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government urgently to review the laws on obscenity and pornography to ensure that the desire of this House to encourage freedom of speech is balanced by the responsibility which it has to protect children, women and men from degradation and violence.

This motion has been signed by a total of 95 MPs.