[JURIST] BBC News is reporting that the UK House of Commons [official website] has voted to include the glorification of terrorism as a criminal offense in the proposed Terrorism Bill [text; Home Office backgrounder], overturning the House of Lords on the issue.

The Lords last month voted against outlawing the glorification of terrorism [JURIST report] over concerns that the offense could unduly limit freedom of speech. Prime Minister Tony Blair, however, has said such a prohibition is essential in fighting the threat of extremism. Recent protests in London over the Muhammad cartoons [JURIST news archive] prompted UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke last week to renew efforts [JURIST report] to have the glorification offense reinstated in the proposed anti-terror law. The vote on reinstatement Wednesday was 315-277. BBC News has more.

ALSO ON JURIST  Op-ed: The UK Terrorism Bill: Defending Democracy's Core Values [UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke]