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
NSS supports Freedom of Expression Rally
Posted: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:41
Several members of the NSS Council and several members of staff attended the One Law for All Free Speech rally outside parliament last week. Speaking for the NSS was Executive DirectorKeith Porteous Wood.
Keith pointed to the decades of neglect in academic institutions in failing to stand up to threats to freedom of expression. He warned about the conflation of race and religion that continues to be exploited by those trying to silence critics by equating any criticism of Islam with so-called Islamophobia and branding it, and critics, as racist.
Keith called on all in academe to recognise the crucial importance of freedom of expression as the bedrock of democracy and a free society and to fight much harder to preserve it. Keith is also concerned about the commitment of the police and CPS to tackle these issues and has experience of them even seeking to prosecute television journalists bravely trying to expose hate speech.
His full speech is here (pdf).
Ban lifted on Visions of Ecstasy after 23 years
Posted: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 09:38
Nigel Wingrove's infamous film Visions of Ecstasy has finally been given a certificate by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
The 19-minute film's notoriety came from it being the only film ever banned in Britain for blasphemy – or potential blasphemy.
The BBFC refused to give a certificate to Nigel Wingrove's depiction of the erotic fantasies of St Teresa of Avila, which meant it could not be legally distributed.
The movie became the focus of anti-censorship and free speech activists and the ban was fought all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, which upheld the BBFC's decision in 1996.
Blasphemy was abolished as an offence in 2008 and the film has now been rated "18". The board acknowledged the film would be "deeply offensive to some viewers," but was unlikely to cause harm, although it is likely to set off another chorus of complaint from Christians who feel they are being persecuted.
Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society, said: "We can expect to hear the usual anti-free speech voices raised over the next few days as they complain that an equally controversial film wouldn't be made about Islam. In fact, such a film has been made, it was called Fitna and produced by the Dutch politician Geert Wilders. That, too, is dogged by controversy wherever it is shown."
He said: "Visions of Ecstasy was never prosecuted for blasphemy, so no-one knows whether it really did break the law. The BBFC merely thought it might break the law and so banned it."
All the same, Mr Sanderson welcomed the BBFC's move as a "nod in the direction of society's maturity."
Nigel Wingrove was present at the NSS's celebration for the end of blasphemy law in 2008, when it became clear that the BBFC was ready to change its mind. He told reporters: "I don't believe it should have been banned in the first place. No one in the church thought it was blasphemous. Some believed it could be viewed as offensive but that it fell well short of blasphemy."
