Democracy cannot exist without the right to free speech.
Free speech should be robustly defended as a fundamental freedom.
The National Secular Society has defended free speech from religious threats since our founding. We played an instrumental role in abolishing "blasphemy" laws in Britain, but serious concerns remain. Blasphemy laws still exist in Northern Ireland. And throughout the UK, religious fundamentalists seek to impose their blasphemy taboos on others through violence and intimidation.
There are also increasing attempts to categorise offending religious sensibilities as 'hate speech', making criticism, mockery or perceived 'insult' of religion a criminal act akin to racial hatred or inciting violence – in other words, a 'blasphemy law by the back door'.
Without free speech no search for truth is possible; without free speech no discovery of truth is useful; without free speech progress is checked… Better a thousand fold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech.
We are further concerned by a developing 'culture of offence' in which any speech or action deemed likely to offend religious sensibilities is considered taboo. Enforced by a toxic mix of terrorism and religious deference, this is chilling free speech through self-censorship.
We also campaign against blasphemy laws around the world, where they continue to be used to target religious and political minorities. These are sometimes described by UK politicians as 'misuse' of blasphemy laws, but we contend there are never any legitimate uses for blasphemy laws.
Being offended from time to time is the price we all pay for living in a free society. Rather than trying to silence those we disagree with, we believe the answer to speech we don't like is more speech – better speech.
We therefore campaign to protect and preserve freedom of expression, including offensive, critical and shocking speech.
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Latest updates
Imam joins secularists and Christians in defending Pastor James McConnell’s free speech
Posted: Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:37
An Islamic scholar has said he is willing to go to prison to defend the free speech of Northern Ireland Pastor James McConnell, who is being prosecuted for comments he made on Islam.
Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini has penned an article for the Belfast Telegraph in which he strongly criticises the decision to prosecute Pastor James McConnell, after the Pastor described Islam as "Satanic" and "heathen".
McConnell refused to accept a police caution for his sermon, and the case is now going to court. He is charged with sending a "grossly offensive" communication under the 2003 Communications Act.
The National Secular Society has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland urging him to reconsider the decision to prosecute Mr McConnell.
Dr Al-Hussaini called the decision to press ahead with prosecution "extraordinary" and said it was "quite contrary to our country's tradition of freedom of expression."
He said, "It is of utmost concern that, in this country, we uphold the freedom to discuss, debate and critique religious ideas and beliefs - restricting only speech which incites physical violence."
The imam, a Senior Fellow at the Westminster Institute, said the case threatened freedom of religion and belief, and added, "I strongly uphold the moral right of Pastor McConnell and myself, as Christian and Muslim, to disagree about matters of doctrine and belief".
He said it was a matter of "deep dismay" that a "fellow citizen is being subjected to criminal proceedings, when at no time have any of the statements he has made incited to physical harm against anyone."
"If Pastor McConnell is convicted and imprisoned, I shall go to prison with him," Dr Al-Hussaini added.
"Where it pertains to Pastor McConnell's sermons about other Churches and faiths, I hear the hurt caused in the past to some Catholics and now some Muslims.
"But a free and democratic society enters into severe peril when it starts to confound what we perhaps ought or ought not to say, with what in law we are allowed to, or not allowed to say."
Stephen Evans, the National Secular Society's campaigns manager, commented: "We very much welcome Dr Al-Hussaini's robust defence of free expression. The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland's authoritarian use of a sweeping law to curtail free expression in this way should concern us all.
"By allowing the weapon of 'offence' to be used to silence the likes of Pastor James McConnell, the PPS is trampling over everyone's fundamental right to freedom of expression and we urge it to think again.
"However offended some may feel by criticism of their beliefs, in an open and free society, the law should not be used to insulate them from feeling offended."
Secularists, evangelical Christians, Catholics and Muslims, among others, have all now spoken out to condemn the prosecution and to defend free speech.
The imam also raised the persecution of Christians and others around the world, and praised Christian clergy who had "spoken out tirelessly about the heinous persecution of Christian and other minorities in Muslim states."
MPs express support for secularism in Bangladesh
Posted: Mon, 22 Jun 2015 15:36
Several Members of Parliament have praised secularism in a debate on Bangladesh, and the NSS is calling on them to support secular principles in the UK as well.
Anne Main, a Conservative MP, espoused the virtues of secularism in a debate about the future of Bangladesh, despite voting "very strongly against" equal rights for gay people and "moderately against" equality and human rights legislation in the UK. The MP asked what the UK could do to "help the people of Bangladesh on their path to fulfilling their potential and delivering a future that upholds the ideals of peaceful secularism, prosperity and political engagement?"
She described a "vital struggle for secularism" and said, "we need Bangladesh to hold the line in an uncertain world and stand up for secularism and freedom of speech."
Main said that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was "warmly welcomed" at a recent event for "reaffirming her Government's commitment to upholding secularism". Main added that critics of international aid would be 'satisfied' if they knew the money was going to "support a country that is independent, secular and a bulwark against the fundamentalist Islamism."
Conservative MP Mark Field mentioned the "importance of maintaining [a] secular society" in Bangladesh.
Several Labour MPs too were strongly supportive of secularism in Bangladesh. Jim Fitzpatrick, an honorary associate of the NSS, referred to Bangladesh's "proud secular history" while Chris Matheson said he was 'strongly supportive' of efforts to "introduce a civil society based on secularism".
Kerry McCarthy MP, another NSS honorary associate, spoke out on "grave concerns" about freedom of religion and speech. "The Government must protect the rights of religious minorities and atheists in Bangladesh, as well as the majority Muslim population," she said.
She also raised issues around abuse within arranged marriages as well as child marriage.
Hugo Swire, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said "I associate myself closely with the comments of my right hon. Friend [Mark Field] about the importance of a secular society."
The Minister added: "The recent horrifying and brutal murders of three bloggers in Bangladesh caused consternation around the world. The perpetrators must be brought to justice and the Bangladeshi Government must be unequivocal in protecting those who speak up."
An NSS spokesperson commented: "We are very pleased to see the Government seriously considering the violence targeted at non-believers around the world. We are also pleasantly surprised to see such a strong and explicit endorsement of the benefits of secularist principles from a Government Minister.
"As the struggle against Islamism which the Minister referred to is a global challenge, as the Prime Minister called it, we hope to see the secularist principles that Anne Main MP described as a 'bulwark' against religious extremism, and which the Minister endorsed, applied in the UK as well.
"While there are debates about what model of secularism is best, and how assertive it should be, it is gratifying to see secularist principles being defended so widely and with cross-party support."
The full debate can be read here.
