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
Charity Commission to investigate Hindu group over ‘extremist’ speaker
Posted: Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:48
The Charity Commission is to investigate a Hindu organisation after it invited a controversial Hindu nationalist to a House of Commons event.
Southall Black Sisters and the Women Against Radicalisation Network are among those calling for National Hindu Council of Temples (NHCT) to lose their charitable status over their promotion of Tapan Ghosh.
The open letter to the Charity Commission, also supported by the Association of British Muslims and the Asian Mums Network, criticised the NCHT for inviting Tapan Ghosh to speak in Parliament, saying the event was aimed at "stirring up religious hatred in Britain" and that the organisation "should be stripped of its charity status".
Mr Ghosh appeared at event in Parliament on 18 October, hosted by the NHCT and Conservative MP Bob Blackman, called "Tolerating the Intolerant". According to the Times, Mr Ghosh was the keynote speaker and talked about his West Bengal based Hindu Samhati, referred to by some as a "Hindu Defence Force". Such groups have been implicated in violence against Muslim minorities, including rising mob violence against those eating or accused of eating beef.
The National Secular Society welcomed the investigation, warning that Hindu Nationalism or Hindutva was a "divisive far-right religio-political ideology, akin to Islamism".
Mr Gosh is on record calling on the United Nations to control the birth rate of Muslims and has previously been accused of promoting anti-Muslim conspiracies, praising the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in in Burma, and calling for Muslims to be forced to convert if moving to a western country. He has also tweeted that "All Muslims are jihadis". Mr Gosh and the NHCT have been accused of developing links with other far right nationalist movements, and last week Mr Gosh took part in an interview with former EDL leader Tommy Robinson.
Mr Blackman defended Ghosh's appearance to BBC News last week, saying that Mr Ghosh's talk had not focused on anti-Muslim issues, and that he did not regret sharing a platform with him.
The National Council of Hindu Temples has been investigated by the Charity Commission before for appearing to endorse the Conservative Party in the 2015 and 2017 general elections. In both cases perceived Labour support for outlawing caste discrimination was seen as a significant factor. Bob Blackman, the MP for Harrow East, is chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus and a vocal campaigner against efforts to outlaw discrimination based on the idea of caste.
A spokesperson for the NSS commented: "Many faith-based charities carry out good work, but it is unclear why some groups receive charitable benefits merely for the promotion of religion, especially when they are also involved in partisan politics and the spread of sectarian hatred."
Image is a YouTube still from one of the events, with Tapan Ghosh centre and Bob Blackman MP on the right.
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Student U-turn over Christian Union ban at Oxford College
Posted: Thu, 12 Oct 2017 13:50
Organisers have agreed to allow the Christian Union to exhibit at future freshers' fairs at an Oxford college, following an earlier decision to ban it from attending.
The student organiser of the freshers' fair at Balliol College had decided to ban representatives from the Christian Union, on the grounds that their presence could cause "potential harm" to freshers.
Freddy Potts, vice-president of Balliol's Junior Common Room (JCR) committee, said, "Historically, Christianity's influence on many marginalised communities has been damaging in its methods of conversion and rules of practice, and is still used in many places as an excuse for homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism."
Mr Potts initially said that the JCR committee wanted the fair to be a "secular space", explaining that students from religions not represented at the fair may "suffer". He later conceded that a "multi-faith" stall with information about various student religious societies would be allowed at the fair. However, representatives of the Christian Union were barred from attending and distributing leaflets.
The ban prompted outrage among students. The JCR passed a motion condemning the organisers, saying that the ban was a "violation of free speech, a violation of religious freedom, and sets dangerous precedents regarding the relationship between specific faiths and religious freedom".
Since then, the students have withdrawn the ban on religious groups at future fairs.
A college spokesman said: "The Christian Union will be offered a stall at future freshers' fairs.
"Balliol is a tolerant, friendly college where students of all faiths and none are free to worship and express their beliefs openly."
The National Secular Society backed the decision to allow Christian Union and other religious groups to attend future freshers' fairs at the College, arguing that "religions should be free to compete in the marketplace of ideas".
Stephen Evans, Campaigns Director at the NSS, said, "The ban on the Christian Union had nothing to do with secularism and everything to do with the censorious 'safe space' mindset that seeks to create echo chambers of like-minded thought.
"Attempts to create environments where students aren't exposed to ideas and speech that make them feel uncomfortable is corrosive to free speech and inimical to intellectual exploration and debate."
Image © Peter Trimming, shared under Creative Commons licence 2.0.
