Freedom of expression
The National Secular Society robustly challenges religious threats to free expression. The Society's 140 year campaign to abolish the blasphemy law in England succeeded in 2008 and we continue to campaign to resist blasphemy laws in other parts of the world where in some places conviction can carry the death penalty.
We campaign vigorously against all attempts to restrict free speech and artistic expression, and in 2006 were instrumental in ensuring the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was amended to protect free speech.
We campaigned when attempts were made to ban the showing of Jerry Springer the Opera on the BBC, and the show was eventually broadcast.
The NSS has been in the forefront of efforts to oppose the modification of the United Nations Human Rights Charter by Islamic nations that would render it ineffective, and even counterproductive, in the area of free speech.
The current attempt to make 'defamation of religion' a crime would prevent and punish any criticism or questioning of religious belief and practices - even those that contravene current Human Rights. There is also a growing tendency to conflate race and religion so that criticism of some religions or even open public debate can be stifled as 'racist'.
In 2009 the NSS objected to the ban on Dutch MP Geert Wilders from entering the UK.
We made the point then that vigorously criticising Islamism is not racism and nor is it hate-mongering.
If religion — any religion — is off-limits for open debate we are in a very dangerous situation. And if it is off-limits because of perceived threats from radicals, then it is even more dangerous. It is capitulation to terrorism.
Everyone should be allowed to speak freely, whatever their beliefs as only in the public arena can contentious ideas be debated and, if necessary, exposed and countered.
What have we done?
In January 2012 we submitted a response to the Police Powers Consultation referring to the removal of the word 'insulting' from Section 5 of the Public Order Act. This states that it is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby. The NSS believes that insult is too nebulous a concept and too open to abuse. Its removal would protect freedom of expression and individuals are protected from serious harm by other laws.
In 2006-6 we successfully campaigned against the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill and the Government's attempts to substantially lower the prosecution threshold for incitement to religious hatred. We campaigned for freedom of speech safeguards and for intent to be a necessary component of the offence. We did this alongside evangelical Christians and joined with Lord Carey, former archbishop of Canterbury, to condemn the existing Bill – which was defeated.
In 2008, the blasphemy laws were abolished after a long campaign by parliamentarians and pressure groups, principally the NSS.
In 2011 we complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about adverts being banned in contravention of freedom of expression rights.
We have been in the forefront of a successful campaign to oppose Islamic nations changing the UN Human Rights Charter to include defamation of religion.
Please contact us if you know of any local or national examples of freedom of expression under threat from religion. If the Advertising Standards Authority is involved, you can contact them here - and please let us know what happens.