Officials in Scotland have agreed to rewrite portions of a bill targeting hate crimes that some critics feared could have opened the door to prosecutions for blasphemy.

Scotland had an antiquated law on its books making blas­phemy a crime. Officials agreed to get rid of the law earlier this year and replace it with a new law banning hate crimes.

The new law, however, contained language criminalizing “stirring up hatred” against religious groups. Humanist leaders in the country pointed out that the provision could be interpreted to allow punishment of anyone who criticized religious groups or beliefs.

Humanists UK reported in late November that Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf announced that government officials will remove portions of the bill that could have been construed as criminalizing the criticism of religion. The new legislation will make it clear that “antipathy, dislike, ridicule and insult” of religious beliefs is a protected form of free expression.

 

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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