An atheist has written to a newspaper saying he welcomes Scotland’s proposed Hate Crimes Bill because he will be able to monitor all holy books and sermons and report any ‘hatred’ to the police. The letter, by Ian Stewart, Convener of Atheist Scotland, stated, ‘Atheists see some merit in Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf’s Hate…
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Churches in Scotland have been told they should not have more than 50 worshippers in their services because of the Covid-19 crisis, but the limit is not legally binding. The Scottish government’s guidance may change, but that is the latest situation at the time this edition of ET went to print. The Scottish government…
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Concerns are being raised about a new far-reaching Hate Crimes and Public Order Bill being proposed in Scotland. One journalist writing in The Spectator asks whether possession of the Bible could become a criminal offence. The proposed legislation would make it a crime to possess ‘inflammatory’ material, or communicate ‘insulting’ material to another person.…
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The Scottish government changed its mind last month to allow churches to reopen after the Covid-19 lockdown. Initially, Nicola Sturgeon’s government was going to force churches to remain closed for longer, even though pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen. But following a huge backlash from churchgoers across the country the government in Edinburgh…
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The Scottish Government has come under increasing pressure to modify its Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, with critics warning it can be weaponised to destroy free speech. The bill seeks to extend the current laws on ‘hate crimes’ against particular characteristics, including religion, race, sexual orientation, and transgender identity. Ciarán Kelly, deputy…
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Covid-19 emergency planning and the subsequent lockdown saw the Scottish government stop work on plans to make changing legal sex much easier. The Scottish government has proposed making sweeping changes to allow anyone to change legal sex by self-declaration within just six months, remove the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and…
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Scottish councillors have expressed significant concerns over the country’s incoming smacking ban, claiming it would be difficult to police effectively. A poll carried out among nearly one in five of all councillors across Scotland found the vast majority did not believe it should be a criminal offence to smack a child. The poll, organised…
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