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
Queen’s University Belfast cancels Charlie Hebdo event for ‘security’ reasons
Posted: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:45
Queen's University Belfast has cancelled an event on the fallout from the attack on Charlie Hebdo, citing fears over the university's "reputation" and "security" if the talk went ahead.
Vice Chancellor Patrick Johnston has been widely criticised for cancelling the event, in the latest capitulation to fear over Islamist blasphemy laws.
Dr. Brian Klug, who was due to attend the event, said he was "dismayed" by the Vice Chancellor's decision.
He commented: "The faculty members who took the initiative to convene the conference set an excellent example of how academia should respond to complex conflicts in the public sphere. They deserve to be fully supported by their university -- not to have the rug pulled out from under their feet."
The event was to be called "Understanding Charlie: New perspectives on contemporary citizenship after Charlie Hebdo". The university is refusing to make any comment, except to confirm that the symposium has been cancelled.
Stephen Evans, campaigns manager for the National Secular Society, said the case was "another example of fear- real or imagined- shutting down debate, discussion and normal academic freedom.
"Patrick Johnston is just the latest to capitulate in the extraordinary climate that exists today. Free speech must be defended every day, or else it shall continue to be eroded. Blasphemy laws must never be reintroduced, whether by legislation or through threats of violence.
"The answer to 'security concerns' is not to cancel every event which might upset Islamists, but to provide security. Free speech must be defended, not hidden away in case it upsets someone.
"It is shameful that the university's 'reputation' was deemed to be more important than protecting academic freedom."
Jodie Ginsberg, Chief Executive of the Index on Censorship said: "If all public discussion on important issues is shut down because of security fears then the terrorists have won. Free speech - including the free exchange of ideas - is vital for democracy and universities in particular should be the torch bearers for free expression."
This cancellation is the latest in a series of events closed down by universities over fears about a backlash from Islamists. Activist Maryam Namazie was recently forced to give up plans to speak about apostasy at Trinity College, over fears her talk might 'antagonise' Muslim students.
Update 24 April 2015
Queen's University Belfast has said it will review its decision to cancel the symposium. The University has commissioned a risk assessment to be completed by Friday 1 May 2015. Organizers of the event had previously suggested that a risk assessment had been carried out and "every precaution had been taken".
Putin continues promotion of “traditional values” and crackdown on blasphemy
Posted: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:33
The head of the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre has been fired by the Russian Culture Minister over a 'blasphemous' opera, prompting further fears about free speech and religious freedom in Russia.
Boris Mezdrich staged his own interpretation of Wagner's 1845 Tannhäuser opera, which featured what is described as a "controversial" view of Jesus. Posters which promoted the opera featured an image of a crucifixion between a naked woman's legs.
The Russian Orthodox Church said the opera was a "desecration of a symbol revered by Christians."
Mezdrich has now been fired by the Culture Minister, in a move backed by President Vladimir Putin. The Culture Ministry said: "The feelings of believers have the right to respect."
The ministry warned the "deliberate mockery" of religion could result in "people's deaths, as we have seen recently", in an apparent reference to the attack on Charlie Hebdo.
A spokesman for the Russian government commented: "The state has the right to expect appropriate [performances]... that do not provoke such a sharp public reaction."
He claimed that Mezdrich's dismissal "should not be seen in any way as [an attempt] to bring in any censorship."
Mezdrich has been replaced with Vladimir Kekhman, who described the opera as blasphemous and said it had been staged by "militant atheists."
Aleksandr Kalyagin, the chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia, has said the sacking was even more severe than some of the repression against artists under the USSR.
Kalyagin said: "even in Soviet times there was a procedure known as the last warning from the party" before artists were fired.
A court case against the production was dismissed on 10 March. After the case was thrown out, activists associated with the Russian Orthodox Church began campaigning for Mezdrich to lose his job.
The New York Times reports that "President Vladimir Putin has made the protection of 'traditional values,' including religious values, a pillar of his third term. In this case, Mr. Putin made his opinion known on March 23 when he awarded a state medal for 'service to the homeland' to Aleksandr Novopashin, a priest in the Novosibirsk diocese who helped to lead the campaign against 'Tannhauser.'"
In 2013 the Russian Duma passed a blasphemy law which made it a criminal offense to offend "religious feelings". Blasphemy is punishable in Russia by a jail sentence of up to three years.
There are growing concerns that the Russian Orthodox Church and Putin's regime are increasingly entangled, despite Russian's nominal separation of church and state. Last year Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, said European secularisation had reached "apocalyptic dimensions" and called for a return to "Christian values."
