Newsline 18 December 2015

Newsline 18 December 2015

This will be the last issue of Newsline in 2015, and we wish all of our members and supporters an enjoyable Christmas holiday and a happy new year. Take a look at all of our news from the past week below, including a seasonal, end-of-year message from our president Terry Sanderson reflecting on the challenges of 2015 and what lies ahead in the coming year.

The NSS depends entirely upon the generosity of our members and supporters to fund our work and draws no public money whatsoever. If you endorse our aims, consider joining the Society today to help our vital campaign work.

The highlight of our calendar every year is the Secularist of the Year award. Tickets are now on sale and we are asking for your nominations! See below for more information about this exciting event.

News, Blogs & Opinion

EHRC urged to tackle discrimination and unfairness of faith schools

News | Fri, 18th Dec 2015

The National Secular Society has called on the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to tackle issues of discrimination and unfairness stemming from religious influence in publicly funded education.

The NSS urged the EHRC to use its powers to assess the scale and impact of faith schools as part of its response to the EHRC's 2016 - 2019 Strategic Plan Consultation on which challenges and issues the Commission should tackle over the three year Strategic Plan period.

In its submission the NSS called on the Commission to focus on the discrimination resulting from faith schools' ability to select pupils on the basis of their parents' religion or religious activities. Equality Act exceptions permit schools designated as having a religious character to use faith-based oversubscription criteria and allocate places by reference to faith when the school is oversubscribed. In many cases this results in children being denied access to their local school or leads to parents feeling compelled to attend church services to secure a place for their child.

The submission also calls on the Commission to investigate the extent of discrimination in employment at faith-based schools and to assess the potential detriment to the career prospects of non-Christian teachers – including those seeking promotion to leadership positions.

The NSS argues that faith schools are able to discriminate on grounds of religion and belief far beyond where it could reasonably be considered to be a 'genuine occupational requirement' and therefore beyond the level of discrimination permitted by the EU Employment Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. The NSS urged the Commission to support repeal of the exemptions that permit discrimination against teachers on grounds of religion or belief and sexual orientation, arguing that a requirement on teachers to simply uphold the ethos of the school should suffice.

The Commission is also urged to investigate issues stemming from the limited availability of secular provision in some areas and the extent to which the public funding of faith-based schools is undermining the ability of all parents to raise their children in accordance with their own religious or philosophical convictions.

The submission also draws the Commission's attention to the growing consensus against the legal requirement on schools to provide, and for pupils to "take part in", a daily act of collective worship and urges the Commission to push for a duty on schools to ensure all aspect of the school day are inclusive and appropriate for children of all religion and belief backgrounds.

Earlier this year the Commission published a comprehensive review on progress towards greater equality and human rights protection in Britain. Despite the significant controversy around the role of religion in schools the report made no mention of the issues arising from it.

The National Secular Society said it was "both disappointing and surprising" that these issues haven't been a focus for the Commission, despite being a considerable topic of public debate.

Stephen Evans, the National Secular Society's campaigns manager, said: "Various legislative and equality exemptions have facilitated unjust discrimination in our education system on a significant scale for too long. Given the Commission's remit to challenge discrimination, and to protect and promote human rights, we would like to see it playing a greater role in advocating for a more inclusive education system, based upon respect for children's independent rights and principles of equality and fairness.

"The discrimination permitted against both teachers and pupils on grounds of religion or belief is both unjust and inimical to utilising schools to nurture a more inclusive and cohesive society. Meanwhile, a requirement on schools to provide worship and a lack of secular provision in some areas undermines children's right to freedom of religion and belief and usurps parental rights.

"The Equality and Human Rights Commission is well placed to tackle these areas where there is still unfair discrimination and where religious freedom is not being adequately respected, and we urge it do so."

As part of its strategic plan the Commission has indicated its intention to tackle harassment and abuse, including forced marriage, child sexual abuse and exploitation, hate crime against LGBT people and discrimination based on ethnicity and religion or belief.

It will also work towards encouraging democratic participation and ensure access to justice – a move welcomed by the NSS which has urged the Commission to look at this issue in the context of religious tribunals, including so called 'sharia courts' which undermine the rights of women and other vulnerable groups from Muslim backgrounds.

Ofsted to prepare prosecution cases against staff of unregistered religious schools

News | Mon, 14th Dec 2015

Ofsted is preparing prosecution cases against the founders of unregulated religious schools after warning the Government of a "serious and growing threat" to children's safety.

The head of Ofsted had called for a much tougher response to the growth of unregistered religious schools, which he said posed a threat to children's safety and undermine the drive to promote British values in schools, and the Department for Education has confirmed that prosecutions will go ahead for those found to be running illegal religious schools.

In a letter to the education secretary on 11 December, Sir Michael Wilshaw, the head of Ofsted, wrote that there was a threat to children's safety for "hundreds of children in several English regions."

Sir Michael warned that the number of children studying in illegal schools which are not registered was "far higher than is currently known."

Work to ensure that "all maintained and independent schools promote British values" is being "seriously undermined" by the proliferation of unregistered religious schools, Sir Michael said.

In response to the concerns a new team of inspectors has now been commissioned by Ofsted to "focus exclusively on identifying, investigating and supporting the prosecution of those found to be operating unregistered schools."

NSS campaigns manager Stephen Evans commented: "We are very pleased to see the Government taking these concerns from Ofsted seriously. These are issues we have been raising for a very long time.

"Children are being denied a well-rounded and balanced education on a large scale, and it is time their independent interests became everyone's primary consideration.

"The problem is not just one of extremism. Children have a right to education; but instead they are being failed and left to languish in appalling conditions in these so called 'schools' which teach narrow curricula based almost exclusively on religious dogma."

In November three unregistered schools in Birmingham were closed after inspectors carried out no-notice inspections and found a "narrow Islamic-focused curriculum", and "inappropriate books and other texts including misogynistic, homophobic and anti-Semitic material".

As well as concerns about the curricula taught at the sites, Ofsted inspectors found "serious fire hazards, including a blocked fire escape and obstructed exits", "unhygienic and filthy conditions" in one school and that staff were not checked or cleared to work with children.

The three schools were still operating on 30 November and inspectors remained on the sites until "they were satisfied that the settings had ceased operating and alternative arrangements, in registered schools, had been made for all of the children."

Sir Michael blamed Nicky Morgan's officials for providing "confusing and unhelpful advice to the proprietors" of the three unregistered schools which led them to believe that the "could continue to operate, without registration, while their respective applications were submitted and considered."

Further investigations of the schools were announced to "support the prosecutions of the individuals suspected of operating unregistered schools" and the Secretary of State has now tasked Ofsted with preparing prosecutions in eighteen cases.

Secularism is on the front line

Opinion | Fri, 18th Dec 2015

Terry Sanderson, the recently re-elected president of the National Secular Society, reflects on the challenges of the past year and invites our members and supporters to take an active role supporting our campaign work in 2016.

We've heard very little this year from the 'they're-taking-Christ-out-of-Christmas brigade', who traditionally try to use the festive period to invent and promulgate some "outrage" or other that reinforces the myth that poor put-upon Christians are victims of some plot by the evil secularists to rob them of their religion. (The whole dishonest farrago was, of course, imported from the USA by our own pathetic religious right. In America they're still at it).

I live in hope that the absence of such stories so far this time round is because people are less willing to buy into the fantasy that nativity plays are banned from schools or that Christmas has been renamed Winterval or that carol concerts have been cancelled in case they offend Muslims or that card manufacturers are conspiring to exclude religious designs from their ranges.

A couple of years ago, the NSS was called on by the media to explain why – according to a survey - seven out of ten offices had banned Christmas parties and the putting up of festive decorations. As it happened, the survey was a complete fabrication, but the fact that it was an outright lie did not stop the papers repeating the claims for days on end.

I went on one radio programme after another and told them that the survey didn't exist, that it was a hoax and its claims self-evidently not true. "Yes," they'd say, "But why are they banning Christmas decorations in offices up and down the country?"

You don't need Christmas, though, to hear claims that British Christians are a defenceless persecuted minority. Even the Church of England had the gall recently to claim it was being victimised because cinemas refused to show a poorly made advertisement it had produced, the one that looked a bit like a trailer for The Exorcist IV.

(Yes, I am referring here to the poor, disadvantaged Church of England, the one that is by law established with large swathes of the education system under its control and 26 of its clerics in parliament, £6 billion in the bank and the Head of State as its Supreme Governor. A lot of disadvantage there.)

But there was nothing discriminatory about the refusal of this ad. The cinema chains just didn't want to show any religious or political advertising. But the CofE thought the rules in this case should be suspended uniquely for them, as they are in so many other areas. They have a sense of entitlement that can be very irritating, not to say arrogant.

Despite intense pressure from the press, from the Church and from bandwagon-jumping politicians, the agency that declined to take the advertising is sticking to its guns. It has a policy and it isn't budging. We hope it continues to be resolute in the face of such bullying.

This week I did a debate on Premier Christian Radio with Peter Hitchens, the brother of the late-lamented NSS honorary associate Christopher. The subject was "Are we finished with Britain's Christian heritage?"

Mr Hitchens is as far from his brother in opinion as it is possible to be. He made the usual inflated claims about Christianity being responsible for all that is good in the world and not responsible for anything that is bad. I felt beholden to point out to him that the history of Christianity in this country and, indeed, around the world, is a bloody and oppressive one. It has as many negatives as it does positives.

I also disagreed with his claim that Christianity invented and developed democracy. I think the ancient Greeks and other proto-democracies had a handle on that long before Christianity was invented.

In fact, Christianity kicked and railed against the introduction of democracy every step of the way. Every bit of socially progressive legislation that has benefitted people has been introduced despite fierce resistance from the churches.

But most annoying of all was Mr Hitchens' repeated conflation of "secularism, humanism and atheism". I explained more than once that secularism and humanism are not the same thing, that secularism does not present itself as a replacement for religion, that secularists are not trying to deny people of faith their right to believe. But he wouldn't have it. "Secularists, humanists and atheists" in his world it seems have the same ambitions as Pol Pot and Joseph Stalin.

I explained that secularism protects believers from persecution (usually from other believers) and defends their right to practice their faith in peace. But he would not have it. He insisted that Christianity needs to be revived and resume its privileged and superior position. The indifference to it and abandonment of it must end. I asked how he was going to bring people back to the faith when they didn't want to come? Was some kind of coercion going to be involved?

I didn't get a satisfactory answer. But again Mr Hitchens seems unable to accept that the abandonment of Christianity is something that the majority of people in a free society have willingly chosen. Christianity and any other religion or belief must stand or fall on its merits. If it needs to rely on force for its survival, or state support, then it is not worth saving.

I do repeat, though, that secularism is not the same as humanism and it is not synonymous with atheism (although many secularists are both those things). Secularism makes space for everyone. If Christians want to celebrate Christmas, then secularism won't stop or discourage them, nor will it stop Muslims celebrating Eid or Hindus Diwali or Jews Hannukah.

The only demand secularism makes of religion is that it does not try to hijack the powers of the state for its own sectarian purposes. Which is obviously not to say that persons with a faith should not be able to participate fully in democracy - but they do it as individual citizens. If they want to put a religious designation on themselves that is their right, but it should be no concern of the government.

It's been an interesting and extremely active year for the NSS, and I am pleased to have been given another term as President. These are interesting and occasionally frightening times. Secularism has never been so important or so desperately needed.

So why not make a New Year's resolution and join the NSS if you aren't already a member? Numbers matter and commitment counts. Commenting on the internet and liking us on Twitter and Facebook is not enough. Put your principles into a tangible form and become a member today of one of the most effective and necessary pressure groups in the country.

In the meantime, have a good holiday and season's greetings to all.

National Secular Society defends cinemas’ freedom not to screen religious adverts

News | Mon, 14th Dec 2015

The NSS has defended cinema chains' freedom to refuse religious or political advertising after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) accused them of "failing to uphold Britain's long tradition of freedom of expression."

The EHRC has offered its legal expertise to the Church of England, should the Church seek to use the law to force cinemas to screen its advert featuring the Lord's Prayer. The EHRC also said it would examine issues raised by Digital Cinema Media's (DCM) decision not to screen the advert as part of its ongoing examination of the laws protecting freedom of religion and belief.

However, the National Secular Society has accused both the EHRC and Church of England of using a "free speech" argument where it doesn't apply.

Stephen Evans, the National Secular Society's campaigns manager, said: "As the EHRC's own guidance on freedom of expression makes clear, free speech considerations do not apply to decisions taken by private companies.

"The Church may be disappointed but it cannot claim its free speech has been infringed simply because a cinema chain exercises its commercial freedom not to screen religious advertising in its cinemas.

"Cinemas are free to decide for themselves which material they wish to screen and the Church of England has failed to advance any cogent legal reason why cinemas should be compelled to screen the Church's commercial. Even more concerning is that the Commission has offered to intervene and assist the Church without giving any legal justification either, instead echoing the Church's victimhood narrative on this issue. This has placed unwarranted pressure on a commercial company operating within the law, and we believe in good faith.

"The even-handedness of DCM's policy also means it has not been unlawfully discriminatory. The actions of the Church and the Commission therefore represent an unreasonable interference on DCM's lawful commercial activities."

In a statement on its website, EHRC Chief Executive Rebecca Hilsenrath voiced strong opposition to the decision not to show the adverts on the grounds they might 'offend' people. "There is no right not to be offended in the UK; what is offensive is very subjective and this is a slippery slope towards increasing censorship", she said.

Stephen Evans, commented:

"We wholeheartedly agree with the Commission that nobody has the right not be offended – a principle we regularly uphold by actively defending the right of evangelical street preachers facing sanction for speaking out in ways we find offensive. There is rightly no law prohibiting cinemas from screening religious messages if they want to. However if they choose not to for commercial reasons then that is their right. It is therefore disappointing and somewhat perplexing to see the Church, and particularly the EHRC, seeking to deny them that freedom."

Mr Evans added that the NSS hoped to work with the Commission to encourage it to include a secularist perspective on this issue in the commission's inquiry.

DCM's long-standing policy of not accepting political or religious advertising applies regardless of the specific religious or political beliefs involved. DCM say the policy was "informed by feedback from customers" and it believed a "clear neutral stance remains the fairest policy for all".

A spokesperson for DCM told the Mail on Sunday: "We remain confident in both the appropriateness and lawfulness of our neutral policy and as such are happy to assist the Commission as and when we hear from them."

The Church created a media storm last month after claiming that its advert had been 'banned' in fear of causing 'offence'. However, DCM informed the Church of England as early as August that its policy of not carrying religious or political advertising meant it would not be accepting the Church's advert. The majority of the scenes were filmed subsequently.

The Church of England's media campaign around the so called 'Lord's Prayer ban' was timed to coincide with the launch of its "Just Pray" website in November. The BBC, which worked closely with the Church to promote the story – even attending the filming – amended its own article to replace the word "ban" with "snub" shortly after publication following criticism.

The Church has claimed that it wanted to screen its advert featuring the Lord's Prayer prior to the new Star Wars film which opens in cinemas this Christmas. Steven Slack, the Church's legal adviser warned the decision not to screen the advert gave rise to the possibility of legal proceedings.

However, a UK Human Rights Blog from One Crown Office Row barristers' chambers suggested the Church of England did not have a "right to buy" commercial advertising space in cinemas and indicated that any claim brought under the Equality Act would be unlikely to succeed.

Mr Evans added: "It's understandable that a company delivering an entertainment experience for all may want to avoid overtly religious and political content – not because it is offensive – but because both are subjects about which people feel very strongly and differently about. DCM's policy simply reflects that.

"Nobody at the National Secular Society finds the Church's advert remotely offensive and would support DCM's freedom to screen it if it chose to. However, if religious or anti-religious advertising were allowed free reign in cinemas those calling for the Lord's Prayer to be shown now may feel differently about other adverts. Cinemas simply recognise that a night out at the cinema might not be the best forum for competing ideologies to be expressed."

Also see:

So called Lord's Prayer 'Ban': It's Winterval all over again

Time for the Church to come clean on the 'Just Pray' controversy

Find out about the National Secular Society's joint campaign with the Christian Institute to 'Defend Free Speech'

Verdict delayed in prosecution of "offensive" Northern Ireland preacher

News | Wed, 16th Dec 2015

The judge presiding over the trial of Pastor James McConnell – accused of sending a grossly offensive message by uploading a sermon critical of Islam – will not give a verdict until 5 January 2016.

McConnell, aged 78, was charged under the Communications Act 2003 with sending a "grossly offensive" message for a sermon in which he called Islam "satanic" and said that although there may be "good Muslims in Britain" he didn't trust them.

The judge rejected an attempt during the trial by McConnell's legal team to have the case thrown out and said he would reach a judgement on the "interesting" case in the New Year.

Keith Porteous Wood, the executive director of the National Secular Society, said: "This is a chilling prosecution and regardless of the verdict next year the trial is a sad indictment of free speech in the UK. What Pastor McConnell said was no doubt very offensive to a great number of people, but that is immaterial.

"Religious believers of different faiths must have the right to hold strong opinions about the beliefs and doctrines of others, to give forthright sermons, and to debate each-other openly; just as the non-religious must have the right to reject all religion and express their criticism and satire of religious ideas.

"While we reject what McConnell has said, it is clear that he was not inciting violence. The threshold for restricting freedom of speech should be set very high, and this case does not approach that boundary. We see this as an important test case."

The National Secular Society and a range of Christian groups have been joined in their opposition to the prosecution by Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini, an imam, who has been vocal in defending McConnell's right to freedom of expression.

Al-Hussaini said that the decision to press the prosecution against the fiery Christian preacher was "contrary to our country's tradition of freedom of expression."

McConnell refused to accept an informed warning for the sermon, which would have been on his criminal record for 12 months. Under questioning during the trial McConnell said, "If I took that informed warning that would be me gagged."

The preacher said that the prosecution was "ridiculous" and that he never had any intention of hurting Muslims.

The National Secular Society was very critical of the decision to prosecute the Pastor and wrote to the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland to register its serious concerns about the decision, arguing that it would chill free speech.

In correspondence with the NSS the Public Prosecution Service claimed that the prosecution was in the "public interest" – a conclusion which the National Secular Society strongly contested.

It was revealed in July that the principal prosecution witness against James McConnell was a Muslim who praised the Islamic State's rule of Mosul. In January 2015 Dr Raied Al-Wazzan, said that "since the Islamic State took over, [Mosul] has become the most peaceful city in the world." He added that "you can go from east to west of the city without fear", in comments he later 'withdrew'.

Tickets on sale and nominations open for Secularist of the Year 2016

News | Thu, 17th Dec 2015

Tickets are now on sale for Secularist of the Year 2016, to be presented by broadcaster and columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer, and the National Secular Society is seeking the public's nominations to receive the prize.

National Secular Society president Terry Sanderson said: "Secularist of the Year has given us the opportunity to celebrate a wide range of secularist human rights campaigners and stand in solidarity with important causes such as the rights of women and girls everywhere to access education and the right of students, activists and journalists to speak freely without the enforcement of blasphemy taboos."

The £5,000 prize for Secularist of the Year is awarded annually and sponsored by Dr Michael Irwin. Mr Sanderson said that he hoped to receive a record number of nominations again this year: "The Secularist of the Year can be a group or individual who has made a significant contribution to secularism and human rights in the last year, or who should be recognised for their work over years. We're looking for nominees who have worked on specific secularist campaigns and in a more strategic ways on important issues."

Nominations for next year's prize can be made via email or via our website or admin@secularism.org.uk. Emails should be titled 'Nomination' and include the name of the individual or organisation you would like to nominate with a brief description of why you think they deserve the award. Nominations close Tuesday 19 January.

This year's £5,000 prize will be presented by NSS honorary associate, broadcaster and columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer. Terry Sanderson said he was delighted Ms Hartley-Brewer would present the awards and that she would continue the "fine tradition" set by previous presenters and honorary associates such as Martin Rowson and Polly Toynbee, adding: "Secularist of the Year is one of my favourite events of the year and always a great opportunity to catch-up with members and supporters as well as the inspiring nominees."

Tickets for the event in Central London on Saturday 19 March are on sale now online at £40 for NSS members (£50 for non-members) which includes a three course lunch with a welcome cocktail on arrival. Tickets can also be purchased by sending a cheque payable to National Secular Society to 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL.

Previous winners of Secularist of the Year:

2015 Charlie Hebdo, for its courageous response to the terror attack on its Paris office and defence of secularism – presented by Martin Rowson, Guardian cartoonist and author.

2014 Safak Pavey, for her international work promoting secularism, Human Rights and gender equality as well as humanitarian aid and peace-building – presented by Kerry McCarthy MP, Shadow Foreign Office Minister.

2013 In honour of young human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, the prize was donated to Plan UK, represented by Debbie Langdon-Davies – presented by Michael Cashman MEP.

2012 Peter Tatchell, for his lifelong commitment to the defence of human rights against religious fundamentalism – presented by Nick Cohen.

2011 Sophie in 't Veld MEP, for her work as chair of the European Parliamentary Platform for Secularism in Politics – presented by A. C. Grayling.

2010 The Southall Black Sisters group, for their support of black and Asian women's human rights, accepted by Pragna Patel – presented by Michael Irwin.

2009 Evan Harris MP and Lord Avebury, joint award for their work in the abolition of blasphemy law –presented by Richard Dawkins.

2007 Mina Ahadi, founder of the German Central Council of Ex-Muslims – presented by Joan Smith.

2006 Prof. Steve Jones, biologist at University College London and author of a number of books on evolution –presented by Dick Taverne.

2005 Maryam Namazie, for her work in defence of women's rights and the right to freedom of expression –presented by Polly Toynbee.

Note: Nominations were originally scheduled to end on Friday 29 January but were moved due to a scheduling conflict.

Icelanders turn to the ancient faith of Zuism to escape religion tax

News | Thu, 17th Dec 2015

Over 1% of Iceland's population have registered as Zuist in the past month to escape the requirement on taxpayers to fund a state-recognised church.

Zuism, a religion based around the Sumerian gods, has been established in Iceland as a platform to campaign for secular reforms.

Icelanders must currently register their religion and pay a tax that funds religious groups including the state church. Funds go to the church or religious group to which the individual taxpayer is registered, and if they are not religious or not registered to a religious group the tax money is paid directly to the state.

The Zuist religion however promises to redistribute "the government's annual financial support equally to all members of the congregation."

The organization say that their "primary objective is that the government repeal any law that grants religious organizations privilege, financial or otherwise, above other organizations. Furthermore Zuists demand that the government's registry of its citizens' religion will be abolished."

As well as campaigning against the congregation tax, the group endorse secularist ideals and "fully support freedom of religion, and from religion, for everyone."

On the group's website it says that "the religious organization of Zuism will cease to exist when its objectives have been met."

Elsewhere, voters in the upcoming Spanish election have a choice of several parties promising secular reforms along similar lines to those being discussed in Iceland.

Podemos and Ciudadnos have both called for the self-financing of religion in Spain to replace the current model under which Spaniards can opt to give money to the Catholic Church or to social services when filing their tax return.

Podemos have stated that ""the direct financing of the Catholic church should finish".

NSS Speaks Out

This week we have been quoted in Pink News and the Stoke Sentinel on the debate about the Lord's Prayer cinema advert. NSS executive director Keith Porteous Wood spoke to Sky News and Radio 5 Live about supplementary religious schools, and he was quoted in the Church Times on the Woolf Commission's report on religion and belief in public life. Communications officer Benjamin Jones' response to a minister's recent claim that secularism alienated Muslims was picked up by the Christian Examiner, and he was also quoted on a street preacher's successful appeal against a public order conviction in Christian Today. Our serious concerns about the case were also noted by the Christian Institute,