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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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
Pakistani court upholds blasphemy acquittal in death row case
Posted: Tue, 29 Jan 2019 14:50
Pakistan's Supreme Court has upheld its decision to acquit Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent eight years on death row and whose case generated worldwide attention, on blasphemy charges.
The court dismissed a petition to overturn October's acquittal on Tuesday. Islamist hardliners in Pakistan immediately rejected the ruling and called for protests.
Bibi was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and faced a death sentence until her reprieve in the country's top court. She was also forbidden from leaving Pakistan while the petition was being considered.
The country's chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa stood by the court's original verdict and said nothing in the petition cast doubt on its validity. The verdict criticised inconsistencies in the evidence against Bibi.
As he dismissed the petition Khosa reportedly asked: "You think we give the death sentence to someone on the basis of false evidence?"
The decision theoretically leaves Bibi free to leave the country. Some reports suggest she will join her daughters in Canada, where they have been granted political asylum.
But the Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan Party, the main group which has called for Asia Bibi to be executed, has called on supporters to protest against the decision and be prepared for arrest.
Bibi has been hidden in a secret location since her acquittal, which sparked massive protests across much of Pakistan from Islamists. In November her family said she and they were being hunted "from house to house" by extremists intent on killing her.
Her lawyer also fled Pakistan out of fear for his life. Shortly afterwards he told a major conference on sharia, segregation and secularism in London that he did not regret defending Bibi. While in Pakistan he said he had lost his health and privacy and was subject to round-the-clock police protection.
Bibi's defenders within Pakistan have taken great personal risks since she was sentenced to death in 2010. In 2011 the governor of Punjab province, Salmaan Taseer, and the minorities minister, Shahbaz Batti, were murdered after they spoke in her defence and called for reform of the country's blasphemy laws.
The National Secular Society wrote to the Foreign Office to urge it to "do everything within its power" to secure Asia Bibi's release in October.
Responding to Tuesday's news, NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "It is a significant relief to hear that Pakistan's Supreme Court has stood up to the fundamentalists who tried to overturn Asia Bibi's acquittal. The UK government must now play whatever part it can in ensuring she reaches a place of sanctuary.
"The Foreign Office must also continue to push for the end of blasphemy laws, which are a violation of the fundamental right to free expression wherever they exist. This is particularly important in Pakistan where accusations of blasphemy often have devastating consequences."
Pakistan inherited its blasphemy laws when it came into existence upon the partition of India in 1947. No one charged with blasphemy has yet been executed by the state under the law, but since 1990 at least 65 people have reportedly been killed extra-judicially over claims of blasphemy.
Last week research from the Catholic Church revealed that there were 187 live blasphemy cases involving Christians in Pakistan. There are many others involving Muslims or members of the country's religious minorities.
Some commentators say lower courts in Pakistan are reluctant to acquit blasphemy defendants out of fears for judges' personal safety.
In response to a parliamentary question on blasphemy laws in Pakistan on 15 October, Foreign Office minister Mark Little said the government was "deeply concerned" about the country's "misuse" of its blasphemy laws. The NSS criticised his choice of words on the basis that there is no correct use for a blasphemy law.
NSS warns home affairs committee against ‘Islamophobia’ definition
Posted: Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:50
The National Secular Society has warned a parliamentary committee that recommending the adoption of a formal definition of 'Islamophobia' would risk undermining the right to free speech.
The NSS told the home affairs committee that the commonly-used term 'Islamophobia' conflated "legitimate criticism of Islam, or Islamic practices, with anti-Muslim prejudice, bigotry and hatred".
The society said the government "must not treat the civil liberties of British citizens as an afterthought in its efforts to tackle anti-Muslim prejudice".
The committee is currently gathering evidence on 'Islamophobia' after a parliamentary group recommended defining it as "a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness".
The NSS's submission said the phrase "expressions of Muslimness" in the proposed definition could "effectively be translated to mean Islamic practices".
It noted that erroneous claims of 'Islamophobia' had acted as cover for prejudice, bigotry and illiberalism. It cited examples of claims being used to shut down criticism of Islamic views and customs affecting LGBT+ rights, women's rights, veiling of schoolgirls and the non-stun slaughter of animals.
"We reject the idea that any set of beliefs should be privileged or protected from criticism. In a liberal, secular democracy individuals should be afforded respect and protection. Ideas should not.
"Racism and anti-Muslim bigotry need to be challenged, but proposals to promote the vague concept of Islamophobia seriously risk restricting public discussion and making matters worse."
The NSS said silencing criticism of Islam would be "counterproductive to social cohesion". It added that it had become "impossible to fight for any internal change in Muslim communities" without being branded an 'Islamophobe'.
And the NSS said five proposed 'tests' on speech proposed by the parliamentary group would "render legitimate commentary and debate about Islam beyond the bounds of reasonable public debate".
The proposed 'tests' ask:
- Does it stereotype Muslims by assuming they all think the same?
- Is it about Muslims or a dialogue with Muslims, which they would wish to join in?
- Is mutual learning possible?
- Is the language civil and contextually appropriate?
- Does the person doing the criticism really care about the issue or [are they] using it to attack Muslims?
The all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims called for the official definition of 'Islamophobia' in its report Islamophobia Defined, which was published in November. The NSS and others have since urged the home secretary Sajid Javid not to adopt the definition.
The home affairs committee has said its hearings were also partly prompted by a sharp rise in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes being reported to the authorities in October.
The body which inspects police forces in England and Wales, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), has recently noted "significant problems with the way hate crimes are flagged".
In a report published in July, HMICFRS noted particular problems caused by the fact that those who report hate crime do not need to justify the belief that perpetrators' motivation was "one of hate".
The report said: "We are concerned that flagging hate crime incorrectly has serious implications for forces in terms of their ability to understand hate crime and how it affects victims and their communities, and then respond appropriately. Incorrect flagging also undermines the integrity of published national data and analysis."
The consultation is open until Monday 28 January. Those wishing to submit evidence can do so through the committee's page on the parliament.uk website.
