Encouraging to hear the Government is considering dropping plans to adopt a new definition of Islamophobia. Existing laws that protect people from discrimination, harassment and violence already apply equally to Muslims. www.thesun.co.uk/news/3683668...

Secretary of State 'not surprised' faith-based admissions put "certain racial groups" at a disadvantage. A court case has demonstrated that allowing religious selection facilitates discrimination on the grounds of race. This is the price of religious privilege. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/09...

Is Britain on the brink of a spiritual comeback? www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

Last weekend, Christian nationalism took to the streets of London. This ideology is a menace to democracy – and secularism is our best defence. My op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social ⬇️ www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

How best to tackle anti-Muslim hate? My latest op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social argues that defining Islamophobia may actually exacerbate the very bigotry against Muslims it aims to prevent. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

I agree that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in – and support the Government's work in championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. www.gov.uk/government/s...

This week, I urged the Moroccan Ambassador to push for the release feminist activist Ibtissame 'Betty' Lachgar, who faces prosecution for 'insulting Islam.' Morocco's laws against criticising Islam violate human rights. secularism.org.uk/news/2025/08...

'Criminal case concerning Quran burning threatens the back-door ’reinstatement’ of a blasphemy law'. Law Society Gazette covers @natsecsoc.bsky.social advice from Human rights barrister Akua Reindorf KC warning of serious flaws in CPS prosecution. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/quran-b...

I'm quoted for @natsecsoc.bsky.social in today's Times on our legal advice on recent charges against a man for offenses against "the institution of Islam." These charges effectively reintroduce blasphemy laws through the back door and should be dropped. www.thetimes.com/article/9eb1...

I’m quoted here for @natsecsoc.bsky.social on Sir Hamid Patel’s appointment as chair of Ofsted. At a time of rising religious fundamentalism, it's crucial to uphold every child’s right to a broad and balanced education. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03...

Good to see Lucy Powell acknowledge that caste discrimination is "incredibly damaging and pernicious". It's no less worthy of protection than any of the other protected characteristic. Agree with @warinderjussmp.bsky.social. It should be expressly prohibited. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/03...

Today is #DarwinDay - a day to commemorate and celebrate Charles Darwin, the pioneering mind behind evolution theory who courageously challenged religious orthodoxy to unveil the reality of life on Earth.

Thanks to @luketaylorld.bsky.social for raising the question of bishops in the House of Lords at today’s Constitutional Affairs Committee hearing. It's disappointing that the Government seems intent on ignoring this unjustifiable religious privilege.

Welcome news. Most respondents to the consultation disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposals. A big thank you to all of our members and supporters for speaking out for inclusive schools for all. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/02...

Great news! The government has decided against scrapping the free school faith-based admissions cap. Moving forward with this proposal would have hindered social cohesion, equality, and inclusion. A clear majority (66%) opposed it. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/02...

Freedom of religion or belief belongs to everyone. Those tasked with promoting #FoRB at a governmental level should exemplify impartiality, inclusivity, and a genuine commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals. This approach is divisive and detrimental to #FoRB. ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

What a spectacle. An Anglican bishop using their automatic seat in the House of Lords to defend another unjustifiable privilege: laws mandating daily worship in all state-funded schools. It's time to end mandatory worship - and the bishops' bench should go with it.

Lorely Burt rightly points out in the House of Lords that laws requiring worship in schools are outdated, unpopular, and infringe on children's freedom of religion or belief. It's time for reform.

Tomorrow, a modest bill to repeal the archaic requirement for non-faith schools to hold acts of worship will receive 2nd reading in the House of Lords. It's an important step toward respecting freedom of belief. Outrageous that the Gov't doesn't back this. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2024/07...

With only a quarter of adults holding a favourable view of the Church of England –and even fewer attending services – why does it still hold its status as the 'established church'? Disestablishment is long overdue. www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/arch...

The best way to foster cohesion and defeat fundamentalism in Britain is to recognise that the freedom to question, criticise, mock and insult religion is every bit as essential as the freedom to practise it – and stand up for that principle. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

"Social cohesion is best achieved not through the curtailment of rights, but through the exercise of them." New: @stephenmevans.bsky.social warns that the conviction of a man for burning a Quran brings us perilously close to reinstating blasphemy laws. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

The conviction of a man for burning a Quran brings us perilously close to reinstating blasphemy laws. Social cohesion is best achieved not through the curtailment of rights, but through the exercise of them. My latest for @natsecsoc.bsky.social www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025... .

Man prosecuted after setting fire to Quran. We need to seriously think about the threshold at which personal sensitivities trump collective rights. Laws designed to curb violence and keep the peace are being used to punish individuals for offending religious sentiments. www.itv.com/news/granada...

If misogyny is going to be successfully addressed, we can’t turn a blind eye to religious ideology and religious organisations shouldn’t receive a free pass. Promoting patriarchal and sexist attitudes isn’t a charitable endeavour. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02...

Freedom of expression encompasses the right to express yourself in ways that offend, shock, or disturb. There's no justification for killing someone over the burning of Qurans. Trying to appease fundamentalists by surrendering the right to offend won't end well. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/01...

I cannot comprehend what it must be like to be trapped inside the mind of someone willing to KILL another human being for this reason.

The man behind a series of Quran burnings has been shot dead in Sweden. A heinous murder with no justification. Another apparent attempt to impose blasphemy codes through violence and erode the foundations of an open and democratic society. #SalwanMomika www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bishop currently awaiting a seat in the House of Lords accused of sexually assaulting one woman and of sexually harassing another bishop. And more questions raised over the Archbishop of York’s conduct in the matter. Shambles. www.channel4.com/news/church-...

Pleased to see the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland calling for Religious observance reform to go further. Very much in alignment with @natsecsoc.bsky.social on this. Religious observance really doesn't belong in schools at all. www.scottishlegal.com/articles/min...

Bid to end bishops’ right to seats in the House of Lords backed by Baroness Harriet Harman, Lib Dem peer Paul Scriven and the former BBC Director-General Lord Birt. The privileging of bishops is a hangover from a different age. It's time it was addressed. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/01...

Scrap automatic right of bishops to sit in Lords, says Harriet Harman www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

It's #HolocaustRemembranceDay. A day to honour and remember all those murdered for who they were. Never again. #NeverForget.

The recent conviction of a former doctor for child cruelty after performing an unanaesthetised ritual circumcision should bring this religious practice under scrutiny. @natsecsoc.bsky.social quoted in today’s Sunday Times on the need for better protections for boys. www.thetimes.com/article/446b...

Faith-based school admissions privilege people of faith and encourage nonreligious parents to feign religion in order to access local state funded schools. Religiously selection is outmoded, discriminatory, divisive and should be brought to an end. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/01...

The Government’s #schoolsbill risks an increase in fully religiously selective schools. I hope the Government will fix this by accepting an amendment from Lib Dem's @munirawilson.bsky.social to retain exiting limits on faith-based admissions. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/01...

Honoured to be quoted for @natsecsoc.bsky.social in this week's special edition of #CharlieHebdo, marking the 10th anniversary of the Islamist attack on its office. 'Though Britain's blasphemy laws are no more, new religion-phobia definitions and de facto codes have sprung up in their place'.

Our chief exec, quoted in today’s Times about the risks of the concept of ‘Islamophobia’ stifling free speech and hindering necessary conversations. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

I'm quoted in today's Times on concerns that the concept of 'Islamophobia' has undermined efforts to address child sexual exploitation perpetrated by grooming gangs. I think the term hinders important conversations about a religion with increasing cultural and political significance in the UK.

Labour's #SchoolsBill will debated for the first time today. This introduces compulsory Children Not in School registers and new powers to tackle illegal schools. I hope all MPs will support these measures to protect children's wellbeing and human rights. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2024/12...

Honoured to be quoted for @natsecsoc.bsky.social in this week's special edition of #CharlieHebdo, marking the 10th anniversary of the Islamist attack on its office. 'Though Britain's blasphemy laws are no more, new religion-phobia definitions and de facto codes have sprung up in their place'.

Ten years on from the jihadist gun-attack that killed most of its editorial staff, Charlie Hebdo's principled defiance is an example to us all. My latest piece for @natsecsoc.bsky.social www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025... #JeSuisCharlie #CharlieHebdo

Join us Sun, 5th Jan, 6.30 PM at Secular Hall (or online) for Dr. @sukhwantd.bsky.social's talk on the Sikh Court, caste discrimination, and Sikh fundamentalism. Zoom details: Meeting ID: 856 6301 7127 Passcode: 019219

Charlie Hebdo's defiance serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of free expression, and as an example to us all. Vive Charlie. uk.news.yahoo.com/10-years-att...

From Rushdie to Batley, anti-blasphemy activity in Britain is on the rise. No one can demand respect for their religion at the expense of free expression. I'm quoted in today's @thetimes.com on the need for the Government to be robust in addressing this. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Our chief exec @stephenmevans.bsky.social marks #ExMuslimAwarenessMonth by highlighting the precarious position faced by many who leave the Islamic faith. You can read the full op-ed by Dr Ben Jones on our website at www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2024... #FoRB #ExMuslims #Secularism

Peers will today begin their scrutiny of a bill to remove hereditary peers from the House of Lords. The morally deficient Church of England should be stripped of its privileges, too. My piece for @thefreethinkermag.bsky.social ⬇️ freethinker.co.uk/2024/12/time...

How does a small gavel on display in the offices of Britain's Nation Secular Society commemorate past struggles for free thought and free speech? Robert Forder explores. www.historyworkshop....

📰 Religious charities are promoting extremism ‘with impunity’, warn campaigners. @natsecsoc.bsky.social's work to expose and address extremism in the charity sector was covered in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph. More powers for the regulator could be on the way. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12...

Concerning new report warns of weakening social cohesion and increasing extremism. Agree with its author Sara Khan about the need for a new dedicated unit in government to address these issues. www.thetimes.com/article/1529...