Tags: blasphemy
MP calls for urgent action after killer of Asad Shah incites anti-Ahmadi violence from prison
Posted: Wed, 25 Jan 2017
An MP has urged the Scottish Government to take action after Tanver Ahmed, who killed Ahmadi Muslim shopkeeper Asad Shah, released another anti-Ahmadi recording from prison. Read More »
MP says Government's silence over Louis Smith heralds "unwritten blasphemy law"
Posted: Thu, 15 Dec 2016
Charles Walker MP has criticised the media for unleashing "a torrent of venom" against Louis Smith, and said the Government was "nowhere to be seen" when it should have been defending free expression. Read More »
Fifty organisations call on Greece to abolish blasphemy laws
Posted: Mon, 06 Jun 2016
The National Secular Society has joined dozens of secularist, humanist and free speech groups in calling on the Greek government to expedite the removal of blasphemy articles from the country's criminal code. Read More »
Turkey sentences opposition journalists to prison over Muhammad cartoon
Posted: Fri, 29 Apr 2016
Two Turkish journalists have been sentenced to two years in prison for republishing a cover of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo with a cartoon of Muhammad. Read More »
‘Blasphemy’ accusation after academic calls for separation of religion and politics
Posted: Mon, 18 Apr 2016
A Kuwaiti philosopher was questioned over blasphemy charges after she said that religion and politics should be separate and that placing the Koran above the constitution was "undoing" democracy. Read More »
Bradford imam praises ‘martyr’ who murdered anti-blasphemy law governor
Posted: Fri, 04 Mar 2016
An influential British imam has praised the killer of the former governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who was murdered in Pakistan in 2011 after calling for reform of the country's blasphemy laws. Read More »
Georgian blasphemy law to impose fines for insulting religion
Posted: Mon, 08 Feb 2016
Plans in Georgia to pass an anti-blasphemy measure with punitive fines for 'offences' have drawn criticism from a non-Orthodox bishop, and from an MP of the ruling coalition. Read More »
New report warns of ‘escalation’ in global persecution against non-believers
Posted: Thu, 10 Dec 2015
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has warned that worldwide "persecution of the non-religious has escalated" in the past year. Read More »
Labour MP Keith Vaz would have “no problem” with reintroduction of UK blasphemy laws
Posted: Mon, 16 Nov 2015
Labour MP Keith Vaz has expressed his support for the reintroduction of UK blasphemy laws – provided they "apply equally to everybody." Read More »
New US free expression campaign website launched for International Blasphemy Rights Day
Posted: Wed, 30 Sep 2015
The US-based Centre for Inquiry (CFI) has launched a new website for their campaign to promote and defend free expression, in time to celebrate International Blasphemy Rights Day. Read More »
NSS welcomes Warwick Student Union’s decision to allow Maryam Namazie to speak
Posted: Mon, 28 Sep 2015
The National Secular Society has welcomed Warwick Student Union's decision to host secular campaigner Maryam Namazie. The Union reversed their ban on her speaking following huge public pressure. Read More »
Secular groups write to Nigerian President over blasphemy death sentences
Posted: Sun, 02 Aug 2015
The National Secular Society has joined other secularist organisations in calling for a full pardon and civil protection for nine people recently sentenced to death by a Sharia court in Nigeria. Read More »
Student secular society’s website deleted after “ominous” threat sent from Saudi Arabia
Posted: Thu, 02 Jul 2015
The Manchester Free Speech and Secular Society's website has been deleted, shortly after the group received a message warning they would "feel remorse" if they didn't stop criticising Islamic fundamentalism. Read More »
International groups highlight global persecution of non-religious and religious minorities
Posted: Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Secular human rights organisations have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to promote "genuine respect for freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression". Read More »
Imam joins secularists and Christians in defending Pastor James McConnell’s free speech
Posted: Wed, 24 Jun 2015
An Islamic scholar has said he is willing to go to prison to defend the free speech of Northern Ireland Pastor James McConnell, who is being prosecuted for comments he made on Islam. Read More »
Human rights group warns against global blasphemy law
Posted: Wed, 03 Jun 2015
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has warned the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) against pushing once more for a global blasphemy law. Read More »
MP warns of “religious intimidation” of Muslim voters
Posted: Sat, 16 May 2015
The Labour MP for Slough has hit out against voter intimidation, after some Muslim voters were told that they were not 'true Muslims' unless they voted against her. Read More »
NSS joins calls for Government to recognise global discrimination against atheists- as third Bangladeshi blogger is hacked to death
Posted: Tue, 12 May 2015
The National Secular Society is calling on the Government to do more to tackle global discrimination against non-believers, secularists and humanists- after a third Bangladeshi secular blogger was murdered. Read More »
Bath Student Union says decision to cut Jesus and Mohammed sketch was “in line with normal practice”
Posted: Mon, 11 May 2015
Bath Student Union has defended their decision to cut 'blasphemous' material from a student group's comedy show, saying that it is "normal practice" for Student Union officers to edit scripts. Read More »
Queen’s University Belfast cancels Charlie Hebdo event for ‘security’ reasons
Posted: Wed, 22 Apr 2015
Queen's University Belfast has cancelled an event on the fallout from the attack on Charlie Hebdo, citing fears over the university's "reputation" and "security" if the talk went ahead. Read More »
