NSS urges government to review its language on blasphemy laws

Posted: Thu, 15 Aug 2019

The NSS has asked the government to review its stance on blasphemy laws amid concern that ministers only criticise their "misuse". Read More »

Government admits it’s struggled to define extremism

Posted: Tue, 23 Jul 2019

The government has "struggled" to define extremism, the home secretary has said. Read More »

Employee sacked for sharing clip mocking religion is reinstated

Posted: Fri, 19 Jul 2019

A man who was sacked by Asda for sharing a video of the comedian Billy Connolly mocking religion on social media has been reinstated. Read More »

BBC dilutes protections for religious ideas after NSS lobbying

Posted: Mon, 08 Jul 2019

New BBC guidelines have watered down some protections for religious ideas but still place a premium on depictions of Muhammad. Read More »

Government online harm plans could curb free expression, NSS warns

Posted: Wed, 03 Jul 2019

Government plans to require the censorship of "hateful" content online could act as "a de facto blasphemy law", the NSS has warned. Read More »

Asda sacks man for sharing comic sketch mocking religion

Posted: Thu, 27 Jun 2019

The supermarket chain Asda has sacked a man for sharing a sketch of the comedian Billy Connolly mocking religion on social media. Read More »

Council rejects Islamophobia definition after NSS lobbying

Posted: Wed, 29 May 2019

Lancashire County Council has rejected a proposed definition of 'Islamophobia' after the NSS lobbied against its adoption. Read More »

Islamophobia definition “unfit for purpose”, say campaigners

Posted: Wed, 15 May 2019

The NSS has signed an open letter criticising the "uncritical and hasty adoption" of a proposed definition of 'Islamophobia'. Read More »

NSS asks art gallery to review decision to uphold blasphemy code

Posted: Tue, 07 May 2019

The NSS has asked an art gallery which covered two paintings up in response to complaints from Muslim visitors to review its decision. Read More »

Adopting Islamophobia definition ‘would cripple counter-terrorism'

Posted: Tue, 30 Apr 2019

Adopting a proposed definition of 'Islamophobia' would harm efforts to keep the UK safe, a former counter-terrorism chief has warned. Read More »

Nick Cohen & Pragna Patel to address free speech at Secularism 2019

Posted: Wed, 13 Mar 2019

Nick Cohen and Pragna Patel will address the subject of freedom of expression at the NSS's Secularism 2019 conference. Read More »

Protect free speech, NSS tells Scottish review of hate crime laws

Posted: Fri, 22 Feb 2019

The NSS has urged the Scottish government to protect free speech and abolish blasphemy laws as it considers proposals on hate crime. Read More »

NSS welcomes guidance which promotes free speech at universities

Posted: Fri, 15 Feb 2019

The NSS has welcomed official guidance which aims to ensure universities "remain a forum for open and robust enquiry". Read More »

Event to mark 30th anniversary of fatwa against Salman Rushdie

Posted: Fri, 08 Feb 2019

An event to commemorate the women who defended the right to publish The Satanic Verses is to be held in London next Thursday. Read More »

Pakistani court upholds blasphemy acquittal in death row case

Posted: Tue, 29 Jan 2019

Pakistan's top court has upheld its decision to acquit Asia Bibi, who spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges. Read More »

NSS warns home affairs committee against ‘Islamophobia’ definition

Posted: Wed, 23 Jan 2019

The NSS has warned a parliamentary committee against recommending the adoption of a formal definition of 'Islamophobia'. Read More »

Report highlights religious threat to global human rights

Posted: Mon, 10 Dec 2018

Blasphemy laws, supremacist ideologies, sectarianism, 'caste' systems and exclusionary laws are among the ways religion restricts human rights globally, according to a parliamentary group. Read More »

Home secretary urged not to adopt definition of ‘Islamophobia'

Posted: Sun, 09 Dec 2018

The NSS has urged the home secretary to resist calls to adopt a formal definition of 'Islamophobia' which have been put forward by a parliamentary group. Read More »