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
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Latest updates
Pakistani twitter users call for hanging of ‘blasphemer’
Posted: Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:55
Many Pakistanis and other Muslims from around the world called for the execution of a secular writer for blasphemy over the weekend, causing #HangAyazNizami to trend on Twitter.
Ayaz Nizami, a penname, was arrested and charged with blasphemy in a 'counter-terrorism' court. Two other bloggers were accused of blasphemy along with Nizami.
Conatus News reported that Nizami helped found the Atheist and Agnostic Alliance Pakistan.
Maajid Nawaz said those tweeting #HangAyazNizami were "insecure, petty, weak little cowards" and he urged Twitter to note the clamour for Nizami's murder across its platform.
Maryam Namazie asked if the company was aware "there is a hashtag calling for the death of a freethinker in prison in Pakistan?"
A counter-hashtag, #SaveAyazNizami, was also started.
Julie Lenarz, Director of the Human Security Centre, tweeted, "75% of Pakistanis say blasphemy laws are necessary to protect Islam, according to Pew poll. And you wonder why #HangAyazNizami is trending?"
That figure was found by the Pew Research Centre in 2013.
Following the attack on Charlie Hebdo a poll of UK Muslims found that 11% agreed with the statement "organisations which publish images of the Prophet Mohammed deserve to be attacked".
A poll in 2016 found that 78% of British Muslims think there is no right to publish images of Mohammed.
The calls for the execution of Nizami came as atheists and secularists across the Islamic world faced more intense persecution in Muslim-majority countries, both state-sponsored and from vigilantes.
A 19-year-old Iranian, Sina Dehghan, has been sentenced to death after being tricking into signing a confession that he insulted 'the prophet'.
According to a source quoted by the Centre for Human Rights in Iran Dehghan was told during interrogation that "if he signed a confession and repented, he would be pardoned and let go."
"Unfortunately, he made a childish decision and accepted the charges. Then they sentenced him to death," the source added.
The 19-year-old is reportedly being held "with drug convicts and murderers who broke his jaw a while ago."
On 16 March a man was murdered in the Indian city of Coimbatore for being an atheist.
H Farook was hacked to death by a small group of Muslims who were angered by atheistic posts in a WhatsApp group he administered. One image in the WhatsApp thread showed one of Farook's children holding a sign which said there was no god.
Following the killing Farook's father vowed to continue his son's work. "If they killed him for being an atheist, I have decided to join his organisation and do what he did," R Hameed said.
More than 100 activists attended a demonstration organised by the Atheist Society of India. Jaya Gopal, of the International Committee to Protect Freethinkers (pictured) said the killing was "an act of savagery and intolerance".
Speaking at the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics last week, Ján Figeľ, the EU's first Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union, said blasphemy laws should be "eliminated".
43% of universities restrict speech that might “offend” religious people
Posted: Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:07
University administrations are becoming increasingly "censorious", with 43% of universities censoring speech that might "offend" religious people, according to online magazine Spiked.
The magazine's Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR) claims that 63.5% of UK universities "actively censor speech".
Launching its third annual analysis of campus censorship, Spiked said: "The fight for the freedom to criticise religion, to blaspheme, was at the very heart of the historic fight for free speech. Yet it seems some universities, terrified of offending students of faith, are turning the clock back."
It highlighted London South Bank University's Code of Practice for Freedom of Speech, which warns students that one definition of an 'unlawful meeting' is one "at which there is a likelihood that the speaker(s) may… commit blasphemy". In 2014 the University removed posters from their student atheist society for being "religiously offensive". Following criticism the University removed the policy with a version that did not mention blasphemy, the document was hosted at the same address and gave no indication of when it was issued.
Warwick University's Student Union Policy is also criticised for stating that speakers 'must seek to avoid insulting other faiths or groups'. In 2015 the University's student union barred Iranian-born secularist and human rights activist Maryam Namazie from speaking, claiming she was "highly inflammatory and could incite hatred" if allowed to take up secularist society invitation.
Nottingham University's Student Union policy on "respecting religion" opposes "provocative" organisations and "certain groups with known antireligious views".
The report does not include restrictions on illegal speech such as incitement to violence or to racial or religious hatred, but does include policies aimed at stopping "offensive" speech. Many examples in the rankings were repeated due to universities adopting similar model policies, for example dozens of policies use the ill-defined language of avoiding "needlessly offensive" language.
The FSUR looks at the policies and actions of universities and students' unions ranking them using a traffic light system. The report is sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and Academics For Academic Freedom.
Speaking to the Independent, free speech campaigner and NSS honorary associate Peter Tatchell said "Universities used to be bastions of free speech and open debate. As this report shows, they are increasingly hedging free speech with all kinds of qualifications, making it no longer free."
While defending Universities rights to ban "Islamist and far right speakers who endorse violence against women and minorities", Mr Tatchell said that free speech restrictions were being used to target legitimate groups due to "religious pressure".
However, Malia Bouattia, President of the National Union of Students, criticised the findings as "flawed" and "absurd".
She said: "No Platform and Safe Space policies create an environment where students and staff are free from harassment and fear" and pointed to some of the ranking's criteria including legitimate anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
In the cases of the University of Bedfordshire (policy) and the University of Chichester policies preventing staff from engaging in proselytisation at work were presented as censorship of students.
National Secular Society campaigns director Stephen Evans said: "While flawed in places, the report provides useful tool for taking the temperature of free speech on university campuses. Although often well meaning, it's clear that censorious policies intended to 'avoid insulting other faiths or groups', are open to misuse, particularly by those who feel religious ideas should be shielded from criticism.
"The right to freedom of expression is crucial in a democracy and we hope this report sparks a positive debate on how universities can best meet their legal obligation to promote and facilitate academic freedom and freedom of speech."
You can read the full results of the Free Speech University Rankings 2017 here.
*This story was updated to include London South Bank's revised policy and to correct a mistaken reference to the University of Chester, which should have referred to the University of Chichester
