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
Minister will ‘seriously consider’ concern over hate crime bill
Posted: Thu, 20 Aug 2020 12:55
Scotland's justice secretary has said he will give "serious consideration" to a warning from a coalition of public figures that a new hate crime bill would undermine free expression.
Last week a group of actors, artists, campaigners and others signed an open letter which warned about the bill's potential impact on artistic expression and free speech.
The letter expressed particular concern that someone could be convicted of stirring up hatred without any intent being examined.
The bill creates new offences of 'stirring up hatred', including on religious grounds. Its current drafting means people would be convicted of an offence if their behaviour is judged "threatening or abusive" and intended or "likely" to stir up hatred.
The National Secular Society has raised concerns similar to those highlighted in the letter since the bill was introduced.
In recent weeks police representatives, legal experts, opposition politicians, press freedom advocates and others have also criticised the bill.
Content of latest letter
The letter, coordinated by the Humanist Society of Scotland, said the bill as currently worded could "frustrate rational debate and discussion which has a fundamental role in society including in artistic endeavour".
In response, Yousaf tweeted that the letter would "be given serious consideration" and said he would "reflect further on" the concern that 'stirring up' offences should be restricted to intent only.
Warnings from the NSS and others
The NSS recently warned that ministers' plans represented "an unacceptable erosion of freedom of expression", in response to a consultation held by the Scottish parliament.
As part of its response the society said it should be necessary to prove criminal intent if the offences are introduced.
The NSS is also a supporter of the Free to Disagree campaign, which is calling for a rethink of the bill. Free to Disagree said the fact intent would be unnecessary to secure a conviction "drastically widens the reach of the offence" in its response to the consultation.
And the Humanist Society of Scotland's chief executive, Fraser Sutherland, has said the fact intent would not need to be proven "risks a significant chilling effect on free expression".
NSS response
NSS head of communications Chris Sloggett said the justice secretary's response to the letter was "a step in the right direction".
"Humza Yousaf's response to this letter is a welcome sign. The fact that someone could be convicted of an offence without showing intent under the bill, as it's currently drafted, is a significant concern which needs to be addressed.
"This should also prompt a broader reflection on the plan to introduce 'stirring up hatred' offences in this bill, to ensure freedom of expression is protected."
Read more about the NSS's position on the bill and its work to protect free expression in Scotland.
Image: Humza Yousaf (contains information licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence V.2)
Man killed in court while on trial for blasphemy in Pakistan
Posted: Wed, 29 Jul 2020 17:37
A man has been shot dead in court while standing trial for blasphemy in Pakistan, in the latest act of extrajudicial violence against someone facing that charge in the country.
The dead man, named as Tahir Naseem, was on trial in the northwestern city of Peshawar when he was killed on Wednesday.
Pakistani police have said he was arrested two years ago after claiming to be Islam's prophet.
A man was arrested at the scene over the killing. A video shared on social media has shown him shouting that the victim was an "enemy of Islam" while wearing handcuffs.
Some reports also suggest he told police he was ordered to kill Naseem by the Islamic prophet Muhammad because Naseem had belonged to the Ahmadi faith.
History of violence & threats linked to Pakistan's blasphemy laws
The charge of blasphemy carries a potential death sentence under Pakistani law and those accused of blasphemy are often subject to violent threats.
According to DW, more than 50 people have been victims of extrajudicial killings before their court trials have finished.
Last year Pakistan's Supreme Court freed a Christian woman who'd been accused of blasphemy, Asia Bibi, after she spent eight years on death row. Her family were reportedly being hunted "house-to-house" in the latter stages of legal proceedings and she has since fled to Canada.
In 2011 the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer and the country's religious minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti were killed after calling for reform of the blasphemy law.
A lawyer who defended Asia Bibi from 2014 to 2019, Saif ul-Malook, has also received death threats from Islamists.
UK government position & NSS pressure
Last year the National Secular Society challenged the UK government to review its stance on Pakistan's blasphemy laws, raising the concern that ministers only criticised their "misuse" rather than their existence.
In 2019 the NSS also named Saif ul-Malook, who is now defending another Christian couple accused of blasphemy, as its Secularist of the Year.
NSS response
NSS spokesperson Chris Sloggett said today's news was "truly shocking".
"This killing is a sobering illustration of the fact that accusations of blasphemy can act as a de facto death sentence in Pakistan, even when courts have the courage to reject Islamists' demands to execute those accused.
"It's also a tragic reminder that blasphemy laws are an affront to freedom of expression, and that the UK government should stand unapologetically for their repeal wherever they exist."
Report highlights anti-Ahmadi hatred in UK
The killing comes just a week after a parliamentary group warned of an "overspill" of anti-Ahmadi hatred from Pakistan to the UK and called for "urgent" steps to tackle the problem.
Ahmadis are a Muslim sect but have officially been declared non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Update, 6 August:
The NSS has again written to the Foreign Office to urge it to reconsider its rhetoric around blasphemy laws, and ensure its condemnation of such laws is clear, following the killing of Tahir Naseem.
Meanwhile since the killing thousands have rallied in northwestern Pakistan in support of the gunman. And images have emerged which appear to show lawyers and police taking selfies with the suspect in the killing shortly after it happened.
Some other details in this story were also updated on 4 August 2020.
Image by Qasim Rehmani from Pixabay.
