NSS welcomes plan to give couples more freedom over where they marry
Posted: Thu, 03 Sep 2020
The NSS has welcomed Law Commission proposals for comprehensive reform of England and Wales's wedding laws. Read More »
Thousands sent to faith schools against their families’ preferences
Posted: Tue, 01 Sep 2020
More than 130,000 children have been sent to faith schools in England against their parents' preferences since 2014, the NSS has found. Read More »
First ‘Apostasy Day’ defends the right to leave religion
Posted: Fri, 28 Aug 2020
An international coalition of ex-Muslim organisations has marked the first Apostasy Day, in defence of the right to renounce or change religion and of freedom of thought, conscience and belief.
Twenty-four ex-Muslim groups organised the day on Saturday 22 August,... Read More »
Regulator escalates inquiry into ‘plague protection kits’ church
Posted: Fri, 28 Aug 2020
The Charity Commission has stepped up an inquiry into a church whose bishop sold 'plague protection kits' during the coronavirus outbreak. Read More »
Ditch ‘stirring up’ offences in hate crime bill, say NSS and others
Posted: Mon, 24 Aug 2020
The NSS is among signatories to a letter which expresses "grave reservations" over proposed 'stirring up hatred' offences in Scotland. Read More »
Minister will ‘seriously consider’ concern over hate crime bill
Posted: Thu, 20 Aug 2020
Scotland's justice secretary has said he'll seriously consider a warning that a hate crime bill would undermine free expression. Read More »
Religious groups’ safeguarding failures exposed at abuse inquiry
Posted: Tue, 18 Aug 2020
Witnesses at a public inquiry have called for the mandatory reporting of child abuse allegations during hearings on religious settings. Read More »
NSS: council should tackle discriminatory school admissions in review
Posted: Wed, 05 Aug 2020
The NSS has called on Liverpool City Council to consider the impact of discriminatory policies in faith schools in an upcoming review. Read More »
NSS urges rethink of laissez-faire approach to male genital cutting
Posted: Wed, 05 Aug 2020
The NSS has told the children's commissioner for England that all children should be protected from non-therapeutic genital cutting. Read More »
Marriage law in England & Wales is discriminatory, High Court rules
Posted: Fri, 31 Jul 2020
The High Court has ruled that marriage law in England and Wales gives rise to discrimination on religion and belief grounds. Read More »
Man killed in court while on trial for blasphemy in Pakistan
Posted: Wed, 29 Jul 2020
A man has been shot dead in court while standing trial for blasphemy in Pakistan. Read More »
Widespread concern over hate crime bill must prompt rethink, says NSS
Posted: Wed, 29 Jul 2020
The NSS has reiterated its call for a rethink of Scotland's hate crime bill as concerns mount over its implications for free expression. Read More »
Give every child a pluralistic education, NSS tells Welsh government
Posted: Tue, 28 Jul 2020
The NSS has urged the Welsh government to extend planned reforms of RE so every child is given a pluralistic and balanced syllabus. Read More »
Urgent steps needed to curb anti-Ahmadi extremism in UK, report says
Posted: Thu, 23 Jul 2020
The government must take "urgent" steps to curb the rise of extremism against Ahmadi Muslims in the UK, a parliamentary group has warned. Read More »
Don’t erode free speech, NSS warns Scottish parliament
Posted: Thu, 23 Jul 2020
The NSS has warned the Scottish parliament that proposals to outlaw 'stirring up hatred' would unacceptably erode freedom of expression. Read More »
Parliament set to debate China’s persecution of Uighur Muslims
Posted: Wed, 22 Jul 2020
Parliament is expected to debate China's persecution of Uighur Muslims after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding action on the issue.
The petition, which has amassed 125,000 signatures at the time of writing, calls on the government to impose... Read More »
Plans for new faith schools not being properly scrutinised, says NSS
Posted: Sat, 18 Jul 2020
Proposals to open 19 new faith schools in England aren't being properly scrutinised because of a lack of transparency, the NSS has said. Read More »
Success: government won’t extend same-sex marriage exemptions in NI
Posted: Fri, 17 Jul 2020
The government has confirmed businesses won't be able to refuse services for same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland after NSS lobbying. Read More »
'Free to Disagree' campaign urges rethink of Scottish hate crime bill
Posted: Fri, 17 Jul 2020
The NSS has joined Christian campaigners and others in calling for a rethink of plans to criminalise 'stirring up hatred' in Scotland. Read More »
Jehovah's Witnesses restructure mustn’t impede abuse payouts, says NSS
Posted: Wed, 15 Jul 2020
The NSS has urged regulators to ensure the restructuring of JW charities doesn't obstruct abuse victims from claiming compensation. Read More »