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
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Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Free speech campaigners demand to know why play on Islamic extremism was cancelled
Posted: Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:39
Index on Censorship and English PEN have called for answers after 'Homegrown', a play about radicalisation, was cancelled by the National Youth Theatre shortly before its first performance.
The play was due to be staged by a cast of 112 young people aged between 15 and 25, and was to tackle issues around extremism and radicalisation, including why so many young British Muslims feel drawn to the Islamic State.
In a letter published in the Times on 14 August, leading writers, artists and actors joined free speech organisations in warning of a "culture of caution" that was shutting down debate and discussion.
There are also concerns, shared by the National Secular Society, about the exact series of events which led to the play's cancellation ten days before it was to be performed, and the signatories write of the troubling "reports that the NYT [National Youth Theatre] may have been put under external pressure to change the location and then cancel the production.
"Police, local authorities and arts organisations have a duty to respect and protect freedom of expression — even, and most especially, where they disagree with the message or find it controversial.
"We urge the NYT to give a full account of what led to the decision, and hope that a way can be found to stage it so that the young voices involved can be heard and the production can be judged on its merits."
Signatories include David Aaronovitch and Jodie Ginsberg of Index on Censorship, Maureen Freely, the president of English PEN, and Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty.
Index on Censorship previously described the cancellation as "very worrying" and argued that "as a society we should be encouraging vehicles that shed light on the processes of radicalisation among young people. The way forward is to open up discussions about controversial subjects in contemporary Britain."
Stephen Evans, campaigns manager at the National Secular Society, commented: "It is concerning that the details of what exactly led to the play's cancellation are still unclear.
"Discussion about radicalisation and Islamic extremism should not be off-limits, and we hope that misplaced sensitivity over religion was not behind the cancellation.
"Reports about 'external pressure' placed on the organisers are very troubling and there needs to be a full account of what took place. Free speech must be defended, whether encroached on by the Government and police, or through inappropriate deference to religious feelings."
Meanwhile, a planned Mohammed Cartoon exhibit has been cancelled with organisers citing security concerns. In a statement on the ShariaWatch website, Anne Marie Waters said "the risk of running this exhibition is simply too high".
McConnell vows to “preach the same message” after first court appearance for anti-Islam sermon
Posted: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 07:49
Pastor James McConnell has said he will carry on preaching his message about Islam, after his first day in court over an allegedly 'offensive' sermon.
Speaking outside the Laganside courts in Belfast, the preacher told a large crowd that he would carry on delivering the same message and added that he would "not go back on what I preached."
Pastor McConnell told supporters "I am not guilty" and said that he wanted to be exonerated. He has been charged under the Communications Act 2003 with sending a "grossly offensive" message for a sermon in which he called Islam "satanic".
The National Secular Society wrote to the Public Prosecution Service before the trial began, criticising the decision to pursue the case, and warning that the prosecution seriously undermined free speech regardless of whether McConnell is found guilty.
The firebrand preacher said the prosecutors in the court for the first day of the trial were "very nervous".
The case has drawn strong criticism from Christian groups and from an imam, Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini, who said the prosecution was "quite contrary to our country's tradition of freedom of expression".
Pastor McConnell noted the widespread outrage over the decision, adding that the case was not just of concern to Christians. He said there had been a reaction of "anger" from atheists and "people who don't go to church" about the PPS' decision and said the prosecution was "ridiculous" and "stupid".
NSS president Terry Sanderson commented, "The National Secular Society regards this as a vital test case for freedom of speech. If Pastor McConnell is convicted, we will all be less free to express ourselves or to criticise religion.
"We have seen no evidence of incitement to violence in his sermon."
The preacher agreed when asked if the prosecution was an absolute waste of taxpayers' money and said repeatedly that there was "no way" his sermon was motivated by 'racism'.
It emerged before the trial began that the key prosecution witness is a man who praised the Islamic State's rule of Mosul. Dr Raied Al-Wazzan said that the Iraqi city was now "the most peaceful city in the world". Al-Wazzan is also the complainant who first prompted the PPS to take up the case.
In a letter the PPS has refuted the NSS' assertion that the prosecution was not in the public interest.
It is understood that Pastor McConnell will next appear in court on 3 September.
