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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2. Join us
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Latest updates
Ireland set to hold blasphemy referendum on 26 October
Posted: Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:37
The National Secular Society has said Ireland's impending referendum on its blasphemy law should prompt "global action in defence of free speech on religion".
On Tuesday evening the Dail, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament), ratified a proposal to hold a referendum on the issue on Friday 26 October. The decision passed through the house unopposed.
The upper house, the Seanad, passed the legislation on Thursday.
Currently Article 40.6.1°.i of Ireland's constitution says: "The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law". The referendum will propose removing the word "blasphemous" from that article.
The minister for justice Charlie Flanagan said while the offence remained in the constitution, Ireland would be seen as keeping "company with those who do not share the fundamental values we cherish such as belief in freedom of conscience and expression".
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans urged Ireland to "take a stand for free speech" when the referendum takes place.
"Repealing the reference to blasphemy from Ireland's constitution would be a welcome declaration of Ireland's changing attitude to religious privilege and a statement of support with free thinkers globally.
"Ireland's referendum should prompt global action in defence of free speech on religion. It should send a message to the rest of the world: offending religious sensibilities is not a crime, and the world will not tolerate those who persecute people for their thoughts and words."
The NSS has campaigned for the repeal of blasphemy laws since its founding in 1866 and was instrumental in their repeal in England and Wales in 2008. Earlier this year the Scottish National Party committed to repealing Scotland's blasphemy laws.
The last recorded prosecution for blasphemy in Ireland was in 1855, although last year Irish police launched an investigation into the actor Stephen Fry over comments he made insulting God.
Fry was investigated under Ireland's Defamation Act 2009, which says a person "who publishes or utters blasphemous matter" is liable to be fined up to €25,000.
Dermot Ahern, the minister for justice at the time, has since said he included the line about blasphemy because the constitution required it.
He added that the government at the time included many "hurdles" to prevent prosecutions. The act says those prosecuted will be able to defend themselves successfully if "a reasonable person would find genuine… value in the matter to which the offence relates".
Last year a US government report found laws restricting freedom of expression on religious issues in 71 countries, without including Scotland. And in December the 2017 Freedom of Thought Report, from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), said free thought on religious issues was in "a pattern of regression on a global scale".
The IHEU report said persecution of the non-religious was increasing and 85 countries – more than four in ten of the world's total – 'severely' discriminated against non-religious individuals. In 30 of these countries, the violations were 'grave'.
Ireland's referendum is now set to take place on the same day as Ireland's presidential election. A referendum on a constitutional reference to a woman's place in the home, which was expected to take place at the same time, has been delayed.
The Irish government confirmed in June that the blasphemy referendum would take place.
NSS condemns Spain’s blasphemy laws after actor detained
Posted: Thu, 13 Sep 2018 16:34
The National Secular Society has called for Spain to abolish its blasphemy laws following the detainment of an actor accused of offending religious sentiment.
Willy Toledo, a cinema and television actor, was detained under a Madrid court order after he ignored summons for questioning, arguing he had not "committed any offence and so there is no need to appear before a judge".
Toledo was summoned twice over a Facebook post he wrote in July 2017, in which he defended three women who were prosecuted under blasphemy laws because they simulated a religious procession with a giant plastic vagina as part of a feminist protest.
In his post Toledo said: "I shit on God, and I have enough shit left over to shit on the dogma of the sanctity and virginity of the Virgin Mary. This country is unbearably shameful."
In response, the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers filed a complaint against Toledo for "shitting on the dogma, and because his words were an offense against religious sentiment," according to the association's president Polonia Castellanos.
The expression "shit on God" (cagarse en Dios) is commonplace in everyday Spanish discourse.
Toledo was detained on Wednesday and brought before a judge for questioning on Thursday. His lawyer said that he was unable to speak to Toledo after his arrest, something he described as "unheard of."
Article 525 of the Spanish Penal Code forbids the defamation of any individual's or group's religious sentiments, beliefs, or practices, setting out monetary fines for those who offend religious people. The law tends to be used to defend Catholic sentiments.
The case has been compared with that of 23 year old Daniel Cristian Serrano, who was fined €480 for photoshopping his face into a picture of Christ and publishing it on Instagram last year.
Following his release form the courthouse on Thursday morning, Toledo told reporters, "I am doing what I have to do, which is to draw attention to this, because it is shameful that there are still five articles in the criminal code related to religious sentiments."
Toledo has won support from members of the public who oppose Spain's restrictive stance on freedom of expression. Dozens of Spanish citizens applauded and shouted "Me cago en Dios" (I shit on God) as he left the courthouse. Some Twitter users have started using the hashtag #MeCagoEnDios to express their support. Oscar-winner Javier Bardem has also spoken out in defence of Toledo.
Stephen Evans, Executive Director at the National Secular Society, joined in the criticism of Spain's blasphemy laws.
"The existence of a law that outlaws "offending" or "derision" of religious "feelings", "dogmas", "beliefs" or "rituals" shames Spain," he said.
"Blasphemy laws are an affront to free expression and should be consigned to history. Let's hope the arrest of Willy Toledo precipitates the demise of Spain's arbitrary restrictions on speech.
Photo: By Malopez 21 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
