Category: Freedom of Thought
Humanists raise hate crime bill concerns about freedom of expression
July 27, 2020
Humanist Society Scotland has called for changes to be made to the draft Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, which is being put forward by the Scottish Government, to ensure that protections against hate crime do not exclude humanists…
Free expression or stirring up hatred?
May 11, 2020
Earlier this month we highlighted the welcome news that the Scottish Government was going to follow in other European nations footsteps and scrap the outdated common law against blasphemy. This move comes as part of the Scottish Government’s Hate Crime…
President of Nigerian humanists, Mubarak Bala, arrested on ‘blasphemy charge’
April 29, 2020
Humanist Society Scotland has expressed severe concerns for the president of its sister organisation – the Humanist Association of Nigeria – after he was arrested for ‘blasphemy’. Mubarak Bala was arrested on 28 April by two police officers who took…
Campaign success – blasphemy law scrapped!
April 24, 2020
Humanist Society Scotland has reacted with delight that a five-year campaign by the charity has today seen confirmation that the outdated Scottish law on Blasphemy is to be repealed. Reacting to the news from the Scottish Government, Fraser Sutherland, Chief…
George Buchanan (1506-1582) – an early Scottish humanist
October 16, 2019
George Buchanan (1506-1582) – An Early Scottish Humanist My interest in George Buchanan’s work was sparked when I read that he had been described as a leading Scottish humanist. I was intrigued. Nobody in my circles had ever mentioned him,…
Humanist delivers first Gaelic time for reflection
June 4, 2019
John Howieson, a celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland from Skye, has become the first person to deliver time for reflection in Holyrood in Gaelic. The previous contribution in Gaelic was in 2003 before the Scottish Parliament building was opened in…
We voice concern about adopted definition of Islamophobia
April 26, 2019
Humanist Society Scotland has written to the First Minister to express concern over a definition of Islamophobia being endorsed by Scotland’s political parties and being considered for formal adoption by the Scottish Government. Yesterday MSPs from all of Scotland’s political…
NZ scraps blasphemy law: Scotland still waiting!
March 5, 2019
The New Zealand Parliament have passed a Bill which removes Blasphemy as a criminal offence. Congratulations to our friends, Humanist NZ, who had campaigned to remove the outdated law. The repeal bill, sponsored by New Zealand’s Minister of Justice Andrew…
Playwrights back our campaign to scrap blasphemy law
February 14, 2019
Two satirical playwrights have backed Humanist Society Scotland’s campaign to end the Scotland’s Blasphemy law. Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye and Have I Got News For You panellist, and Nick Newman, scriptwriter and cartoonist called for the end to…
Letter from Prof Rebecca Stott
January 31, 2019
Exclusive Brethren sues Scottish academic over publication of sermons Dear Scottish Humanists, I am hoping you might be able to help support a dear friend of mine, Ian McKay, a 74-year-old academic from Glasgow who is defending himself against a…
New research reveals Scots’ tolerance
December 28, 2018
A new research report by Humanist Society Scotland has shown that tolerance in Scotland to people of different faiths or none in Scotland is very high amongst the Scottish public. However the report authors, Humanist Society Scotland, cite concern about…