Religious groups in Scotland are opposing planned new laws that aim to protect gays and lesbians from hate crime, because they think the rules will prevent them from speaking against homosexuality.

Last year the Scottish Executive set up a working group to look into creating a statutory aggravation of religious hatred, and asked them to consider if the law should include the disabled and the gay community in a move designed to combat the growing number of homophobic attacks.

However Christian groups have said the planned gay protection could lead to them being charged for preaching the gospel and promoting heterosexuality.

Mike Judge, a spokesman for the Christian Institute, told the Sunday Herald that the new categories of hate crime would curtail religious freedom of speech.

“Having an aggravated factor on the grounds of sexual orientation could be used to silence those with traditional views on sexuality. Where I would say that I hate homosexuality rather than homosexuals, someone could say that this was criminal harassment.”

He told the paper that he believes that the plans will prevent Christians from arguing that gay sex is a “condition” that can be cured.

“It’s a point of view that is quite valid. To say that I should be restricted by the state from stating that homosexuals can he helped through therapy would be appalling.”

The general secretary of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference in the Catholic Church said that the new law could be used to intimidate Christians.

“People who articulate traditional opinions on sexuality aren’t criminals, and shouldn’t be treated as such,” he told the Herald.

Imam Rashed of the Muslim Association UK said that the law would restrict their ability to teach their moral code.

“The Koran teaches that sexual relations between men, or between women, are not acceptable. To say such a thing is not harassment. The Scottish Executive should not pass any law that restricts our teachings on this subject,” he said.

However Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan said the objections were “disgraceful”.

“The idea that any group has a right to be hateful towards members of the gay community is utterly abhorrent. There is plenty of evidence to show that gays and lesbians are victims of hate-related crime, and they are deserving of respect,” he told the Herald.