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
Saudi secularist blogger flogged for “insulting Islam” released
Posted: Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:08
The National Secular Society has welcomed the release of Saudi secularist blogger Raif Badawi, who was jailed and flogged for "insulting Islam".
Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison as well as 50 lashes a week for 20 weeks in 2014, after advocating an end to religious influence on public life in Saudi Arabia.
His wife Ensaf Haidar, who lives in Canada and led a worldwide campaign for his freedom, announced he was free on Friday.
Badawi's work and persecution
Saudi authorities have long harassed Badawi for debating religious issues. In 2008 he established the Liberal Saudi Network, a forum that sought to encourage debate on religious and political matters in Saudi Arabia.
That year he was formally charged with "setting up an electronic site that insults Islam" but the charges were dropped. In 2009, the authorities barred Badawi from travelling abroad and froze his business interests.
In 2012, Islamic cleric Abdulrahman al-Barrak issued a religious ruling declaring Badawi an "apostate who must be tried and sentenced". Al-Barrak claimed Badawi had said " Muslims, Jews, Christians, and atheists are all equal," and that this statement "is not allowed unless accompanied by a repudiation".
Badawi was arrested in 2012 and charged with "insulting Islam through electronic channels" and "going beyond the realm of obedience".
Later that year, a judge recommended that he also be tried for apostasy. Saudi Arabia is one of 12 countries where apostasy or blasphemy are punishable by death. This charge was dropped after Badawi told the court he is Muslim.
In 2013 he was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes. This was increased to 10 years imprisonment and 1,000 lashes by an appeals court in 2014.
Badawi's first round of 50 lashes in 2015 sparked a global outcry and he was not subjected to any further flogging.
The court also fined him the equivalent of £217,000 and banned him from any media work or foreign travel for 10 years after his release.
Reporters Without Borders said it would work to ensure he can join his family in Canada despite his travel ban. Quebec has placed him on a priority list of possible immigrants for humanitarian reasons.
Badawi won the 2014 Reporters Without Borders prize in the net-citizen category and the European parliament's Sakharov prize for freedom in 2015. In 2015 and 2016 he was among the nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize.
NSS comment
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said Badawi's release was "fantastic news".
He said: "Badawi should never have been charged, let alone imprisoned and subjected to such barbaric punishment. Blasphemy shouldn't be a crime anywhere.
"We hope Badawi is given safe passage to Canada to be with his family.
"And we call on the UK government and other nations that enjoy liberal democracy to apply greater pressure on Saudi Arabia to ditch its draconian blasphemy laws and make drastic improvements to its human rights."
Image: Human Rights Watch and is reproduced under its Creative Commons Licence
Egypt proposes law banning journalists from discussing religion
Posted: Wed, 23 Feb 2022 13:06
Egypt may ban 'non-specialists' from discussing religion in the media after a journalist expressed doubts about the Quran.
The Egyptian parliament proposed the draft law after journalist and presenter Ibrahim Issa called the Quran's account of the prophet Muhammad ascending to heaven "a completely delusional story" on a TV show on Friday.
Issa, a prominent critic of Islamism, also said the story was advocated "by Salafist preachers".
Egypt's Islamic advisory and governmental body Dar Al-Ifta said on Saturday that the Quranic story "can't be denied in any way."
The law was proposed on Sunday by the head of the Egyptian parliament's 'human rights committee' Tarek Radwan.
Sixty MPs, about 10 per cent of parliament, approved the draft law.
The prosecution general, the main legal advisor to the government, has ordered Issa to be investigated for 'blasphemy' after lawyers and the far-right Islamist Al-Nour Party filed complaints against him. Egypt's penal code outlaws "various forms of religious insult".
The Egyptian courts have reportedly experienced a "surge in cases" of 'blasphemy'.
The draft law is the latest in a series of measures Egypt has taken in recent years to curb free speech and control the media.
NSS head of policy and research Megan Manson said: "This draft law is a sinister attempt to extend Egypt's existing illiberal blasphemy laws and religious leaders' control over legislation.
"Freedom to discuss Islam in the media must not be curbed by religious gatekeepers."
