Tags: Freedom of Expression
Plan to amend Scottish hate crime bill isn’t enough, says NSS
Posted: Wed, 23 Sep 2020
The NSS has welcomed plans to amend Scotland's current hate crime bill, but warned that they don't go far enough to protect free speech. Read More »
Plans on ‘stirring up hatred’ threaten free expression, warn MSPs
Posted: Thu, 10 Sep 2020
MSPs from across the political spectrum have warned that Scotland's hate crime bill threatens free expression during a Holyrood debate. 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 »
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 »
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 »
'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 »
Hate crime bill threatens free speech on religion, NSS tells minister
Posted: Fri, 03 Jul 2020
The NSS and Edinburgh Secular Society have warned the Scottish government that its hate crime bill threatens free speech on religion. Read More »
Minister to correct record on hate crime bill after NSS intervention
Posted: Fri, 26 Jun 2020
Scotland's justice secretary will offer to correct the parliamentary record after he misrepresented part of a bill on hate crime. Read More »
Nigerian Humanist leader ‘faces charges over insulting religion’
Posted: Wed, 17 Jun 2020
The UK government has said the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria has been charged over claims he insulted religion. Read More »
Ministers take up case of Nigerian Humanist arrested for blasphemy
Posted: Fri, 05 Jun 2020
The government has said it's looking in to the case of the arrested Nigerian Humanist leader Mubarak Bala "on an urgent basis". Read More »
Fears for safety of Nigerian Humanist leader after blasphemy arrest
Posted: Wed, 29 Apr 2020
The president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria has been arrested for blasphemy for a second time, sparking fears for his safety. Read More »
'Religious literacy' drive mustn't erode press freedom, says NSS
Posted: Wed, 29 Apr 2020
Initiatives to improve religious literacy in the media shouldn't be used to shield religions from criticism, the NSS has said. Read More »
NSS welcomes Scottish government proposal to abolish blasphemy law
Posted: Fri, 24 Apr 2020
The NSS has welcomed a proposal from the Scottish government which would abolish the country's blasphemy law. Read More »
Blasphemy laws exist in 69 countries, report finds
Posted: Wed, 13 Nov 2019
Sixty-nine countries have blasphemy laws and penalties have hardened in parts of the world in recent years, a report has found. Read More »
Champion open debate to tackle extremism, says commission
Posted: Mon, 07 Oct 2019
Protecting and encouraging democratic debate is "vital" in efforts to tackle extremism, the counter-extremism commissioner has said. Read More »
Chancellor urges caution around use of word ‘Islamophobia’
Posted: Thu, 03 Oct 2019
The chancellor Sajid Javid has said he does not use the word 'Islamophobia' because of its capacity to shut down criticism of religion. Read More »
NSS urges advertising regulators not to defer to religion
Posted: Fri, 13 Sep 2019
The NSS has urged two advertising regulation bodies to protect free expression on religion as they reconsider their rules on offence. Read More »
NSS: free speech must be protected in hate crime review
Posted: Fri, 06 Sep 2019
The NSS has urged the Law Commission to protect free speech on religion as it reviews hate crime laws in England and Wales. Read More »
