Newsline 20 January 2017

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This week we discussed the legacy of Charlie Hebdo and the future of free speech at an event in Parliament, at which we were very pleased to be joined by Caroline Fourest, who helped edit the 'Survivor's Edition' of the magazine (for which we named Charlie 'Secularist of the Year'). You can read more about what Caroline and our inspiring panel of speakers had to say below.

Which campaigner for secularism and human rights has inspired you this year? Secularist of the Year 2017 is fast approaching, and we need your nominations.

Our members enjoy a discounted ticket price, so if you aren't already a member of the Society, join us today.

	Legacy of Charlie Hebdo honoured in event at Parliament News \| Thu, 19 Jan 2017 Members and supporters of the National Secular Society gathered in Portcullis House on Wednesday night to discuss the future of free speech, two years after the attack on Charlie Hebdo.
	The need for a secular state “has never been greater”, says new report News \| Wed, 18 Jan 2017 A secularist report produced by academics and campaigners has urged the Government to reject calls for more religious privilege.
	Local community rallies against religious ethos for new school News \| Tue, 17 Jan 2017 Hundreds of people have protested against a new school in Bala having a Church in Wales ethos, and a local councillor has called on the Church to back away from the project.
	Latest religious takeover will see two community schools run by the Church News \| Tue, 17 Jan 2017 Two community schools in Kent are to be folded into an academy trust under Church control, in the latest Church takeover of community schools, a trend warned of by the National Secular Society last year.
	Tickets on sale and nominations open for Secularist of the Year 2017! News \| Thu, 12 Jan 2017 It isn't long until Secularist of the Year 2017, and the National Secular Society is seeking your nominations for the award.
	Ireland to consider banning schools from using religion in admissions News \| Mon, 16 Jan 2017 The Irish Minister for Education and Skills has set out plans to tackle the religious discrimination endemic in the Irish education system, hitting out at the unfairness of a baptism requirement for school places.

NSS Speaks Out

Our executive director Keith Porteous Wood spoke to Radio France about sharia councils, and we were quoted in Spiked on the policing of newspaper opinion about Islam.

Quote of the Week

"For goodness sake, buy Caroline Fourest's book."
Nick Cohen, after Caroline described how no UK publisher would print 'In Praise of Blasphemy'.

The e-book is available here.

"I wonder if religionists who complain about secularism are asking for more power."
Nelson Hart, Holland Sentinel.

Essays of the Week

Newspapers are being forced to recant their questioning of Islam.
Tom Slater, Spiked.

The UK Hindus divided over caste.
Vishva Samani and Athar Ahmad, BBC News.

Secularist of the Year 2017

Sat, 18 Mar 2017

International Conference on Freedom of Conscience and Expression in the 21st Century

Sat, 22 Jul 2017

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