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
Employee sacked for sharing clip mocking religion is reinstated
Posted: Fri, 19 Jul 2019 12:43
A man who was sacked by the supermarket chain Asda for sharing a video clip of the comedian Billy Connolly mocking religion on social media has been reinstated.
Brian Leach was dismissed last month after a colleague complained that a sketch he shared, in which Connolly said "religion is over" and called suicide bombers "wankers", was anti-Islamic.
He was employed as a checkout assistant at Asda's Dewsbury store in West Yorkshire.
The National Secular Society has been in touch with Mr Leach throughout an internal appeals process and has now learned that he has been given his job back.
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said the decision was "a victory for common sense".
"We welcome Asda's decision to reinstate Brian Leach, although this case raises broader concerns about the extent to which employers can legitimately restrict their employees' freedom of expression on social media."
Brian Leach had removed the relevant social media post and apologised to his colleagues before he was sacked.
BBC dilutes protections for religious ideas after NSS lobbying
Posted: Mon, 8 Jul 2019 16:06
The BBC has watered down some protections for religious ideas but retained a clause placing a premium on depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in new editorial guidelines.
The corporation has removed a requirement that content "likely to cause offence" to religious people should be referred to a senior editorial figure following National Secular Society lobbying.
The NSS responded to a consultation on the BBC's draft guidelines in November and raised concerns that the corporation was deferring excessively to religious sensitivities.
The final version still requires such material to "be editorially justified as judged against audience expectations and generally accepted standards", a requirement which the NSS also criticised.
The BBC has also removed a requirement to avoid "derogatory treatment" of "religions" unless it is "justified by the context". The NSS criticised the requirement on the basis that it treated religions as equivalent to people or groups of people.
But a requirement to "have strong editorial justification" for depicting Muhammad, and to refer any depictions to "a senior editorial figure", has been retained in full. The NSS argued that the requirement placed "a particular taboo" on such depictions.
In 2015 the BBC overturned an outright ban on depictions of Muhammad after the NSS challenged it in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo atrocity.
The guidelines also include a new line saying blasphemy laws around the world "can be very different" from those in the UK and content producers "may seek advice" on them from the BBC's legal team. The NSS has asked the BBC to explain its rationale for including this line and how it will be interpreted.
NSS spokesperson Chris Sloggett said the BBC had made "a couple of small steps in the right direction".
"The BBC has questioned how carefully it needs to tread around religion and made some minor alterations which will help to prevent unnecessary bureaucracy from hindering free expression.
"But its approach is still too deferential to religion in several places. It's particularly disappointing that such a premium is placed on depictions of Muhammad. The national broadcaster shouldn't be treating religion as a special case or helping to uphold blasphemy taboos.
"The new line on blasphemy laws around the world is puzzling and open to some alarming interpretations, so we've written to the BBC again to ask for clarification."
Elsewhere a requirement not to cause "unnecessary offence" to "vulnerable groups" has been replaced by a requirement to avoid causing "unjustifiable offence".
The NSS also said guidelines on impartiality and the promotion of "religious views by stealth" were inconsistent with the exclusive Thought for the Day on Radio 4 or Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2. The BBC did not change its guidelines in response.
Image: BBC Broadcasting House, © Paul Gillett, via Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0]
