Opinion
The Casey Review lays bare the failure to integrate Muslim minorities
Dame Louise Casey offers a damning critique of mass immigration undertaken without serious efforts to integrate new... Read More »
Clerics shouldn’t be the gatekeepers to publicly funded schools
A progressive education policy would seek to break down barriers between people of different faiths and beliefs, not... Read More »
Sharia reviews and the case for non-accommodation and non-regulation
Our legal system cannot be permitted to fracture into parallel codes for different religious groups. Sadikur Rahman... Read More »
Protecting women’s rights is the priority, but that isn’t the only legitimate concern about sharia
Gender inequality isn't the only problem with sharia councils, and non-Muslims have every right to object to the foundation... Read More »
Saudi women’s rights activist arrested – days after Saudi Arabia returned to Human Rights Council
A leading women's rights activist, Mariam Nassir Al Oteebi, has been arrested in Saudi Arabia and languishes in prison,... Read More »
Why the Ashers Bakery 'gay cake' ruling was reasonable
Despite the hyperbole, the decision in the Ashers Baker case is both reasonable and straightforward, opening the door... Read More »
Review: The Battle for British Islam, by Sara Khan with Tony McMahon
There are three million Muslims in the UK. The evidence shows they are becoming more religiously conservative, thousands... Read More »
Forced cutting of young boys’ genitals violates the most fundamental medical ethics
Too often those who carry out forced cutting of young boys' genitals escape with gentle admonishment, rather than... Read More »
The new UN Secretary General must not allow religion to override human rights
UN Secretary General designate needs to ignore Catholic pressure to row back on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights... Read More »
Advice for parents wanting to give the evangelical Operation Christmas Child shoebox scheme a wide berth
Alastair Lichten looks at the ethical, educational and efficiency case against the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas... Read More »
The demonisation of Louis Smith: This is how a de facto blasphemy law works
The castigation of a British gymnast for 'mocking Islam' is illustrative of a troubling return of blasphemy, argues... Read More »
Channel 4’s Dispatches reveals intimidating tactics of US-inspired anti-abortion campaigners
Dr Antony Lempert of the Secular Medical Forum reacts to Channel 4 Dispatches' programme that showed the shock tactics... Read More »
The biter bit: Church of England suffers from Chancel Repair Liability
The legal requirement to repair church chancels has surprisingly started to impact the Church Commissioners. Here's... Read More »
Inclusive education: divisive faith schools are the elephant in the room
NSS campaigns director on why progressives of all political and religious stripes should unite in opposing Theresa... Read More »
Church of England or Chancellor of the Exchequer: who’s setting the agenda?
NSS treasurer Ed Moore writes on the blurred lines between church and state when it comes to taxpayer funding for... Read More »
Facilitating more religious segregation in faith schools can only harm social cohesion
In a move devoid of any common sense, Theresa May's government looks set to capitulate to the demands of religious... Read More »
Living better together: French secularism risks being destroyed by political ambition
Despite occasional conflicts, France's tradition of secularism has served both social cohesion and religious freedom... Read More »
Religious privilege undermines abuse victims’ access to justice
Richard Scorer, a specialist child abuse lawyer at Slater & Gordon draws attention to organisations seeking more... Read More »
Conflating abuse with criticism of Islam risks a return to a UK blasphemy law
The BBC and Demos have published an accidental case-study in why we should all stop using the meaningless and sinister... Read More »
Governor’s perspective: beware an increasingly assertive religious ethos in ‘Church schools’
The NSS is regularly contacted by governors and staff at Church of England schools who are pressured by their diocese... Read More »
The House of Lords and religion
The Parliamentary recess provides welcome respite from the frenetic activity of the political battles being fought... Read More »
Sharia, security and the church: dangers of the British Home Office inquiry
Feminist campaigners from minority women's organisations in Britain, backed by prominent women human rights advocates... Read More »
Living better together: What role do Muslims have in building a secular UK?
When people learn I run a secularist charity, many are confused about what secularism means and its consequences for... Read More »
What do pupils need to know about religion?
In recent years faith communities have amplified their demands for a better understanding of religion in the private... Read More »
Living better together: secularism and cohesion
Later this year the NSS will mark its 150th anniversary with a special conference around the theme of 'living better... Read More »