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 to correct record on hate crime bill after NSS intervention
Posted: Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:56
Scotland's justice secretary will offer to correct the parliamentary record after the National Secular Society pointed out a misrepresentation of the threshold for criminality in a bill on hate crime.
Humza Yousaf addressed a section of the hate crime bill which proposes to outlaw 'stirring up hatred' on various grounds, including religion, while answering questions from MSPs on 11 June.
He said a person's actions would have to be "abusive and threatening" for them to be convicted, when only one of these two criteria would need to be met. The relevant wording in the bill is "threatening or abusive".
A successful prosecution would also require that the accused's actions were either intended to stir up hatred against a group of people or likely to do so. Yousaf correctly noted this during his remarks.
The NSS highlighted the error, and urged the minister to correct the record, in a blog on 16 June. The blog also noted that the minister had used similar wording in a column in The Scotsman the previous month.
Opposition politicians have now written to Yousaf to urge him to correct the record, and a government spokesperson has told The Times that he will offer to do so.
NSS response
NSS head of communications Chris Sloggett said: "The distinction between the words the minister used and the wording in the bill was legally substantial, so it's welcome news that Humza Yousaf will acknowledge his error.
"This inaccuracy highlights the need for the Scottish government to rethink its plans. As currently drafted the bill will make it too easy to secure convictions on vague grounds, lead to police time being wasted and fuel a wider climate of censorship."
The NSS is lobbying ministers and MSPs over the bill, which was introduced to parliament in April.
The society has raised concerns that the proposals on 'stirring up hatred' on religion are too censorious, while welcoming a separate provision that would abolish Scotland's blasphemy law.
Response at Holyrood
In remarks to The Times, shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said Yousaf's inaccuracy had caused "significant concern" and the relevant threshold for criminality was "low".
The Scottish government disputed the latter suggestion, saying: "Behaviour that is threatening or abusive where it is intended or likely to stir up hatred can and does have a serious impact on those who experience it."
Image: Humza Yousaf (contains information licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence V.2)
Nigerian Humanist leader ‘faces charges over insulting religion’
Posted: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:06
The UK government has said a Nigerian Humanist leader has been charged over claims he insulted religion, seven weeks after his arrest for blasphemy.
In parliament on Monday, Foreign Office minister James Duddridge highlighted an update which the government had received from the Nigerian authorities on Mubarak Bala, the Humanist Association of Nigeria's president.
He said Bala had been charged with "insulting contempt of religious creed and insulting public disturbances" under the penal code and racist and xenophobic offences under the cybercrime act.
Meanwhile Humanists International, which is coordinating an effort to free Mubarak Bala, has shared the latest information it has available with the NSS.
This suggests Bala's detention has been secured under the relevant sections of the penal code, but he has not been arraigned and as such has not been formally charged.
Bala was arrested in April after a petition from a group of lawyers, sent to local police, said he had called the Islamic prophet Muhammad "all sorts of denigrating names".
The government's statement suggests charges have been brought under state law in the Kano region, where sharia law applies.
According to the US commission on international religious freedom, the sentence for insulting religion in Kano is one year in prison, a fine, or both. But Islamic courts in Kano have handed out death sentences for blasphemy.
Nigeria's constitution theoretically guarantees freedom of expression but also allows states to set up sharia courts, which can punish blasphemy by death.
And this week Bala's colleague Leo Igwe wrote of his fear that "Muslim zealots" were "using the police action as a pretext to severely punish Bala for making blasphemous posts on Facebook".
NSS comment
National Secular Society chief executive Stephen Evans said: "The charges against Mubarak Bala are a violation of his rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. They should be dismissed without delay. Nobody should be criminalised or punished for criticising religion.
"We urge the UK government to keep up the pressure on Nigeria to secure his speedy release and the guarantee of his safety and fundamental rights."
The NSS has written to the UK government and the Nigerian ambassador to the UK over Bala's case. Some NSS supporters have also helped to raise the profile of the case, including by writing to their MPs.
Notes
- According to Humanists International, a fundamental rights petition submitted on Bala's behalf was due to be heard in court in Abuja on Wednesday.
- The UK government confirmed it had taken up the case "on an urgent basis" earlier this month.
- Mubarak Bala was also arrested for blasphemy in 2014, and has since received death threats.
Note: We updated this story to reflect the information we received from Humanists International shortly after publication on 17 June.
