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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Latest updates
Home Secretary under pressure to reform Public Order Act
Posted: Wed, 16 May 2012 00:21
The National Secular Society has joined together with human rights campaigners and religious groups to launch a major new campaign to reform the 1986 Public Order Act, after mounting evidence suggests it is strangling free speech.
Currently, Section 5 of the Act outlaws "insulting words or behaviour", but what exactly constitutes "insulting" is unclear and has resulted in many controversial police arrests. In 2008 a sixteen-year old boy was arrested for peacefully holding a placard that read "Scientology is a dangerous cult".
In an unlikely move, The NSS has teamed up with The Christian Institute to launch the "Reform Section 5" campaign, as both organisations are committed to free speech and open debate. The campaign will officially launch at the House of Commons today.
It is hoped that the new campaign will increase the pressure on Home Secretary Theresa May to amend the law to remove the "insulting words or behaviour" phrase from Section 5 on the grounds that it restricts free speech and penalises campaigners, protesters and preachers.
A recent ComRes poll commissioned by the Reform Section 5 campaign shows that 62% of MPs believe it should not be the business of government to outlaw "insults." Only 17% of MPs believe that removing the contentious "insult" clause would undermine the ability of the police to protect the public.
David Davis, the former Shadow Home Secretary, is leading the cross-party calls for reform. Mr Davis, a strong supporter of civil liberties, says the campaign is "vital to protecting freedom of expression in Britain today."
The MP denounced "dangerous" restrictions on free speech, citing the 2005 incident of an Oxford student being arrested for saying to a policeman, "Excuse me, do you realise your horse is gay?" The Thames Valley Police justified the arrest on the grounds that the student had made "homophobic comments that were deemed offensive to people passing by."
Keith Porteous Wood, of the National Secular Society, said "freedom of expression should be used responsibly, yet some people only regard as 'responsible' that which they don't regard as offensive or insulting. Freedom only to say only what others find acceptable is no freedom at all.
"Secularists, in defending free expression, must ensure that the law is fair to everybody and argue equally for the right of religious and non-religious people to freely criticise and exchange opinions without fear of the law - unless they are inciting violence. Free speech is not free if it is available only to some and not others."
Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute said: "Churches around the world find themselves in constant friction with aspects of the cultures in which they live, so free speech is vital to us all.
"Britain's historic civil liberties were often hammered out amidst controversy over freedom to preach without state interference. Christians know first hand why free speech is precious and this is why The Christian Institute is pleased to join people across the political and philosophical spectrum to help bring about this simple but important change.
"By bringing together an unlikely alliance of groups, this campaign demonstrates that speaking out plainly for principle, and firm, even energetic, disagreement, are not inconsistent with civil discourse and democracy - actually they are the lifeblood of it."
Influential think-tanks and campaign groups including Big Brother Watch, The Freedom Association and The Peter Tatchell Foundation have joined The Christian Institute and The National Secular Society in the campaign to reform Section 5 in favour of freedom of speech.
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation and prominent gay rights advocate, commented that "section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 is a menace to free speech and the right to protest". He added that "the open exchange of ideas – including unpalatable, even offensive, ideas – is a hallmark of a free and democratic society."
Mr. Tatchell has previously fallen victim to the Section 5 himself. When campaigning against members of the extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir - who called for the killing of gay people, Jews and unchaste women - he was arrested for displaying a placard that cited the murderous actions of Islamist fanatics. It was deemed "insulting" by the police.
The campaign is keen to stress that the law rightly protects the public against unjust discrimination, incitement and violence – but that the law does not need to protect us from having our feelings hurt.
Visit the campaign website at www.reformsection5.org.uk
Follow the campaign on Twitter @ReformSection5
Kuwait approves death penalty for blasphemy
Posted: Thu, 10 May 2012 11:47
Kuwait's parliament has passed a bill authorizing the death penalty for Muslims who curse their god, the Qu'ran, its prophets and the wives of Mohammed. Defendants who repent will be spared capital punishment and will be given five years imprisonment and a fine of $36,000. Non-Muslims face a jail term of a maximum 10 years.
"We do not want to execute people with opinions … because Islam respects these people," said MP Ali al-Deqbasi, "but we need this legislation because incidents of cursing God have increased. We need to deter them."
Blasphemy is already illegal under Kuwait's publications law and under the penal code as slander or libel. At present it carries a jail term, the length of which depends on the severity of the comments and their perceived effect on society.
The vote for the death penalty came after authorities arrested Sh'ia Hamad al-Naqia for allegedly cursing Mohammed, his wife and companions on Twitter last March. The Kuwaiti parliament approved the draft law by a majority of 40 to six.
Amnesty International has described the law as 'a flagrant breach of the country's international human rights obligations'.
