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.
What you can do
1. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
2. Join us
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
NSS to host talk on Islam and academic freedom with Steven Greer
Posted: Mon, 6 Mar 2023 15:03
The National Secular Society will hold a free discussion event with a professor who feared for his life after being falsely accused of 'Islamophobia'.
Professor Steven Greer, an internationally-renowned human rights scholar, will explain how false allegations that the module he taught at the University of Bristol was 'Islamophobic' left him feeling betrayed by the institution he expected to defend him.
In 2020 the university's Islamic Society launched complaints about the content of a human rights law module taught by Prof. Greer, which included discussion of the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the traditional death penalty for 'blasphemy' in Islam.
Although Prof. Greer was officially exonerated of all allegations after a five-month inquiry, the university cancelled the module.
Prof. Greer said he feared Islamist attacks as a result of the accusations. He took to disguising his appearance in public, while the stress forced him to take time off sick for months.
His case is by no means unique. Only last year, complaints against art history professor Erika Lopez Prater for showing historical depictions of Muhammad in class led to her dismissal from Hamline University in the USA.
Now Research Director at the Oxford Institute for British Islam, Prof. Greer has published a book about his experiences, in the hope it will encourage others to take a stand for free inquiry and debate.
In his online talk on 30th March, Prof. Greer will also comment on the wider issue of Islam and 'blasphemy' in the wake of several high-profile cases in recent years. These include death threats targeting a boy who allegedly scuffed a Quran at a school in Wakefield last week, a teacher forced into hiding for showing a picture of Muhammad in Batley, and several Birmingham primary schools facing protests in 2019 for teaching about LGBT equality.
NSS chief executive: "Urgent" that we explore how to protect freedom of speech and inquiry
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "The issue of Islam, free speech and academic freedom has reared its head again and again.
"As recent events have shown, not least the death threats against a boy in Wakefield for scuffing the Quran, it is urgent that we explore how we can protect these freedoms from the threat of Islamist intimidation.
"We're therefore grateful that Prof. Greer has agreed to speak about his experiences to help prevent others from going through a similar ordeal, and to safeguard freedom of expression and freedom of inquiry from religious censorship."
Home secretary agrees to issue new ‘blasphemy’ guidance at schools
Posted: Mon, 6 Mar 2023 11:37
The home secretary has agreed to issue new guidance on 'blasphemy' incidents at schools, following concerns raised by the National Secular Society.
In a letter sent last week, the NSS asked Suella Braverman (pictured) to work with the Department for Education towards "an improved understanding of blasphemy and its role in the wider threat posed by Islamism" in the context of state schools.
Writing in The Times this weekend, Braverman said schools should answer to "pupils and parents" rather than "self-appointed community activists".
"I will work with the Department for Education to issue new guidance spelling this out", she added.
Ms Braverman's article continues: "We do not have blasphemy laws in Great Britain, and must not be complicit in the attempts to impose them on this country. There is no right not to be offended. There is no legal obligation to be reverent towards any religion. The lodestar of our democracy is freedom of speech."
Her pledge comes in the wake of events at Kettlethorpe High School in West Yorkshire, where four pupils were suspended last week after one of them brought in a scuffed copy of the Quran. The episode was recorded as a "hate incident" by the police and one of the boys, who has high functioning autism, has been subjected to death threats. His mother said she had been left "absolutely petrified".
In a now deleted tweet, a local councillor had called for the boys to be investigated by the police and a local imam said "we will never tolerate disrespect of the Koran, never!"
Minister for schools Nick Gibb has also announced that his department is working with the school. Denouncing the death threats, he said: "There is no blasphemy law in this country and schools should be promoting the fundamental British values of the respect for rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs."
Kettlethorpe is the latest in a string of incidents in which de facto blasphemy codes have been invoked. The NSS letter said the events "followed a familiar pattern of so-called community leaders whipping up tension and peddling misinformation". In 2021, a religious education teacher at Batley Grammar School was forced into hiding after showing a picture of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in class.
The "inadequate response" from government had "emboldened fundamentalists seeking to exert pressure through intimidation", the letter added.
NSS: 'schools must be empowered and supported to stand up to religious fundamentalists'
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "We welcome these robust comments from the home secretary. The proof of the pudding, however, will be in the new guidance issued by the Department for Education, which must empower and support schools to stand up to religious fundamentalists seeking to impose de facto blasphemy codes.
"Ms Braverman is correct that 'timidity does not make us safer; it weakens us'. This is the standard by which the new guidance must be judged."
Image: UK Parliament, CC BY 3.0
