The Blasphemy Laws You Cheer Today Will Come Back To Bite You In The Ass Tomorrow

On The Subject Of Graham Linehan, Free Speech And Why It Matters

Our Man Graham Linehan In A Hospital For Having Too High Blood Pressure After Having Been Arrested By No Less Than Five Armed Police Officers In Heathrow Airport The Moment He Stepped Off The Plane From Arizona.

EDIT: The Cathy Brennan (towntattle) I cite is a British Trans Rights Activist who uses that name to annoy the actual US feminist Cathy Brennan.

h/t Lolly

Yesterday, I stumbled across a post from Cathy Brennan that stopped me in my tracks. It featured a photo of Graham Linehan—known to many as “Glinner,” the mind behind Father Ted and The IT Crowd—standing in what looks like a hospital room, looking somewhat haggard and unwell. Brennan’s caption was a cold jab: after years of clashing with him, he hoped his health would “continue on its current trajectory.”

My response was simple but pointed:

This exchange isn’t just a personal spat — it’s a microcosm of a larger debate about free speech, legal overreach, and the unintended consequences of silencing dissent. Let’s unpack what’s at play here.

The Context: Linehan’s Arrest and Health Scare

Graham Linehan, often known online as “Glinner,” has been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken views on transgender issues. On September 1, 2025, The Guardian reported that he was arrested at Heathrow Airport by five armed officers upon returning from Arizona. The charge? Suspected incitement of violence based on three posts he made on X. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his 50s, noting that his health deteriorated during custody, leading to a hospital visit where his blood pressure reportedly spiked to “stroke territory.”

The timing of Brennan’s post—less than 24 hours later—suggests a deliberate jab at Linehan’s vulnerability. Whether his health issues stem from the arrest, chronic stress, or unrelated causes isn’t clear, but the image of him with an IV in his arm paints a stark picture. Public figures like J.K. Rowling and opposition politicians like Nigel Farage have already decried the arrest, while Downing Street has remained silent — a move that only fuels speculation about the state of free expression in the UK.

Blasphemy Laws: A Double-Edged Sword

My tweet referenced blasphemy laws, a nod to the growing concern that laws intended to protect certain groups could be weaponized against others. Historically, blasphemy laws have been used to suppress dissent, with the United Nations Human Rights Council noting in a 2019 report that 70 countries still enforce such legislation. These laws often target religious minorities or marginalized voices under the guise of maintaining social harmony.

In Linehan’s case, his arrest appears tied to X posts deemed inciting violence, raising questions about where the line is drawn between hate speech and protected speech. Cathy Brennan, British TRA, displays his glee at Linehan’s predicament suggests he sees his arrest as a victory in their long-standing feud.

But here’s the rub: laws that silence one side today can easily be turned against another tomorrow.

As one Quora contributor aptly put it, “When laws are concocted but not enforced on everyone… ‘free speech’ is a farce.” If blasphemy or hate speech laws become tools for selective punishment, they erode the very principles they claim to uphold.

Brennan might celebrate now, but what happens when the pendulum swings?

The Human Cost of Polarization

Beyond the legal debate, there’s a human story here. Linehan’s health scare—whether stress-induced or otherwise—highlights the toll of public vilification. While no peer-reviewed studies directly link online feuds to specific medical outcomes, anecdotal evidence abounds. Stress symptoms, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic, include elevated blood pressure, fatigue, and even stroke risk—symptoms that align with Linehan’s reported condition. The intersection of personal attacks and legal scrutiny could amplify this effect, turning a war of words into a literal health crisis.

Brennan’s own history of targeting trans individuals and other feminists, as detailed in RationalWiki, shows he’s no stranger to controversy. Yet his willingness to wish ill on a rival underscores a troubling trend: the dehumanization that accompanies ideological battles. This isn’t just about Linehan or Brennan —it’s about what happens when we cheer for someone’s downfall rather than engaging in dialogue.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As I sit here this morning, the fallout from Linehan’s arrest is still unfolding. Will this set a precedent for policing social media with an iron fist? Are blasphemy laws — or their modern cousins — here to stay? I believe free speech is a principle worth defending, even when it’s messy or offensive.

My warning to Brennan stands: the laws you cheer for today could turn on you tomorrow.

What’s your take? Should posts like Linehan’s be policed this aggressively, or is this a step toward a slippery slope? Drop your thoughts in the comments — I’m all ears.

And as for me? I’ve made up my mind. I will never set foot in the UK again until they fix this law. The erosion of free speech there is a dealbreaker, and I can’t support a system that punishes thought over dialogue.

That’s my line in the sand.