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
Bradford imam praises ‘martyr’ who murdered anti-blasphemy law governor
Posted: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 09:57
An influential British imam has praised the killer of the former governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who was murdered in Pakistan in 2011 after calling for reform of the country's blasphemy laws.
Following the carrying out of Mumtaz Qadri's death sentence for the murder, a post on Facebook by the Bradford based Imam Muhammad Asim Hussain, said it was a "dark day in the history of Pakistan; the day … Mumtaz [Qadri] was wrongfully executed and martyred in the way of Allah, when he did what he did in honour of the Prophet."
Asim is described as a "popular Imam and speaker amongst Muslim youth in the UK" and is the founder of a registered youth charity that aims to give young people a "deeper, more positive awareness of their faith". According to his website he "tirelessly travels throughout the UK to inspire the youth to the way of Islam through his lectures".
Imam Asim told his over 100,000 Facbook followers that the murderer was a "true servant of Allah" and a "lion" of Islam and described him as a "ghazi" – a Muslim fighter against non-Muslims.
Nearly four thousand people 'liked' the post and many commented on it endorsing what the imam had said – though other Muslims challenged him.
One response said "Stop teaching your version of Islam. The Islam I've learned promotes peace and love to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Another response said that "what [Qadri] did was right" while others said the man was not a martyr. Other comments said that the murder was wrong but that Salman Taseer, the secular Muslim governor of Punjab, should have faced some form of punishment in Pakistan's judicial system.
Imam Asim added later that "to honour the Prophet … is the greatest of acts, to dishonour him … is the worst of acts".
Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 by his bodyguard, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri. Qadri reportedly shot his victim twenty-six times with a sub-machine gun.
The governor had recently spoken out in support of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Friends said that Taseer knew he was endangering his own life by criticising the blasphemy law.
In 2010 Taseer told the BBC that he wanted to see a "liberal" Pakistan rather than a Pakistan of "darkness and persecution and of cutting off hands and cutting off heads."
Stephen Evans, National Secular Society campaigns manager, said: "Salman Taseer was a brave and principled advocate for religious tolerance in Pakistan. Support for his murderer within Britain, and the religious fanaticism it reveals, paints a disturbing picture of the future of free expression and social cohesion. It's clear that freedoms we have long taken for granted are not universally supported and we're going to need a strong civil society response, including from Muslims, against those promoting this sort of religious fanaticism."
Qadri was executed in Pakistan on 29 February 2016 and vast crowds numbering in the tens of thousands attended his funeral to show their support.
A court in Lahore is expected to decide the fate of Asia Bibi on March 26.
Students launch #Right2Debate campaign, as protest planned against NUS no-platform policies
Posted: Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:38
A student-led free speech campaign supported by the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam is urging for reform of campus debate, as the NUS faces calls from secularists and ex-Muslims to revise 'safe space' policies.
In a statement on the '#Right2Debate' initiative's vision for reforming free speech on campus the group accuses Student Unions of "resorting to censorship and no-platforming" rather than allowing students to challenge extreme views themselves.
The movement calls for extremist speakers to be contested rather than 'no-platformed' and says that "Resorting to censorship should only be done by SUs in the extreme cases that speakers are breaking the law of inciting hatred or violence."
The initiative warns that allowing "extremist and divisive speakers to lecture on university campuses without any challenge means their harmful, but sometimes persuasive, views can contribute to an atmosphere of intolerance" but argues that censorship is the wrong response.
"Banning individuals means compromising free speech and leaving these ideologies uncontested - pushing those wishing to discuss difficult issues towards other platforms and potentially falling under negative influences (for example social media and online forums). The only way to deal with these issues is to empower the campus community through civil dialogue and debate. This means supporting students to challenge extremist and divisive views with the values of mutual tolerance and respect.
"Few disagree that universities should be bastions of free thought and ideas. It is clear that many views can, and do, cause offence and that this can lead to frank discussion. However, this does not, on its own, constitute grounds for censorship. Instead, students need to feel confident that they have the means to counter extremist and divisive views in a safe and civil manner.
"The university environment's greatest asset is its rich tapestry of ideas. Debating these ideas equips students with the capacity to think critically and expand their horizons. They should not be pushed towards conforming to a particular viewpoint."
While students signed up to the '#Right2Debate' scheme are challenging their specific Student Unions to reform and defend freedom of expression, the National Union of Students was strongly criticised by a range of free speech campaigners, including the National Secular Society, for its restrictive free speech policies.
In an open letter the NUS was blasted by campaigners for silencing dissenters "including feminists, apostates, LGBTI rights campaigners, anti-racists, anti-fascists and anti-Islamists – through its use of No-Platform and Safe Space policies."
It was announced that a protest would be held against the NUS on 17 March, with demonstrators calling on the national students' organisation to revise its no-platform policies.
Signatories to the letter include the National Secular Society, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, One Law For All, Maajid Nawaz, Nick Cohen, Maryam Namazie, Richard Dawkins, Peter Tatchell, editor of Spiked Brendan O'Neill, and the author of the Jesus and Mo cartoons.
"Educational institutions must be a place for the exchange and criticism of all ideas – even those deemed unpalatable by some – providing they don't incite violence against peoples or communities. Bigoted ideas are most effectively defeated by open debate, backed up by ethics, reason and evidence," the letter says.
