The National Secular Society has written to the Secretary of State for Education demanding fines for schools which fail to follow the codes and that schools no longer be permitted to be their own admissions authorities.

Proponents of free speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have accused Islamic countries of hijacking a resolution intended to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and turning it into an order to report on defamation of religion.

The National Secular Society (NSS) welcomes the passing by the House of Lords last night, Wednesday March 5 2008, of an amendment abolishing the blasphemy law by 148 votes to 87.

The National Secular Society – which has been campaigning for an end to the blasphemy laws for 140 years, said that they were no longer sustainable and that the Government was right to proceed with their abolition. The matter is scheduled for debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday.

Although Gangotri was no threat to human health, the protest outside Parliament today must call to mind the protests over the killing of Shambo, where religious beliefs clashed with animal welfare.

The Archbishop has dug himself in deeper with his call for special legal privileges for all religions.

The National Secular Society said today that there would be few British citizens who will not be both baffled and dismayed by BBC reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, believes the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK "seems unavoidable" and might actually help social integration.

The Scouting Association is to be challenged over its discriminatory policy against non-believers.

The results of a Christian worker's employment tribunal have been published: BA may not have been quite as prejudiced as they seemed.

We have been working closely with our Honorary Associate Dr Evan Harris MP, who has identified an opportunity to challenge the blasphemy law in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 9 January.