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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 11h

We campaigned to repeal blasphemy laws – and won. Today we’ve won again, stopping them from creeping back through the back door. Our work continues. If you support it, become a member today and put your principles into action.
www.secularism.org.uk/join-and-renew

Join and renew

Become a member today and we’ll put your principles into action. Join from as little as £2 per month.

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 16h

SUCCESS! Hamit Coskun's conviction has been overturned.

Today's judgment is an important victory, reaffirming the vital principle that free speech protects the right to offend, shock, or disturb – even when it challenges deeply held religious beliefs.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

Success! Court upholds right to free speech in Quran burning appeal

National Secular Society welcomes decision as "important victory for freedom of speech" Read More »

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 17h

🗞️BREAKING: Hamit Coskun's conviction for burning a Quran as an act of protest has been overturned.

The success of his appeal underscores that the freedom to criticise, even in ways that offend, shock or disturb, is central to the very principle of free expression.

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Reposted by National Secular Society

Stephen Evans @stephenmevans.bsky.social · 20h

A mosque attended by the Manchester synagogue attacker was previously reported to the Charity Commission by @natsecsoc.bsky.social
over concerns of fuelling antisemitism and division.

I’m quoted in today’s Times:
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/b613...

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 20h

The Manchester attacker attended a mosque we reported to the regulator for promoting division and antisemitism.

This underscores, in the most tragic possible way, the potential harm caused by religious charities promoting extremism unfettered.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...

Access Restricted

www.telegraph.co.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 1d

State-funded #FaithSchools can discriminate against children whose families don't share their religion. This is unfair, unjust and toxic for social cohesion. Tell your MP that it's time to end discriminatory admissions in schools. 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/mp-letter-fa...

MP Letter: Faith school admissions

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 1d

In our recent report on misogyny in religious charities, we highlighted how some Islamic charities have promoted the idea that wives must obey their husbands - including their demands for sex. Read more 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/09...

NSS report: Religious charities promoting misogyny with impunity

New report from NSS reveals charities promoting or condoning women's subordination, marital rape and FGM. Read More »

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 1d

One of the Manchester synagogue attacker's 'wives' has said he was "controlling and abusive" and raped her "multiple times, but to us we just fulfil what our husbands say". www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10...

Access Restricted

www.telegraph.co.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 1d

The case is a vital test for the protection of free expression - and the vital principle that it must include the right to offend.

We're supporting his appeal, as our chief exec explains in his latest op-ed.

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

Why we’re defending Hamit Coskun – and why it matters

Ahead of this week's appeal hearing, Stephen Evans says the NSS is supporting Hamit Coskun – not to defend his actions, but to defend the vital principle that free speech must include the right to off...

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 1d

🗞️Hamit Coskun is due today to appeal his conviction for burning a Quran.

His conviction repurposes public order laws to punish offensive expression – risking transforming them into a form of modern blasphemy law.

Read the full story👇

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

Hamit Coskun to appeal conviction for burning Quran

National Secular Society supporting appeal to defend "vital principle" of free speech Read More »

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 2d

Our chief exec's latest op-ed sets out why we're supporting Hamit Coskun's appeal against his public order conviction – not to defend his actions, but to defend the vital principle that free speech must include the right to offend.

Read it in full 👇

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

Why we’re defending Hamit Coskun – and why it matters

Ahead of this week's appeal hearing, Stephen Evans says the NSS is supporting Hamit Coskun – not to defend his actions, but to defend the vital principle that free speech must include the right to off...

www.secularism.org.uk

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Reposted by National Secular Society

Judy Webb @judyw.bsky.social · 2d

"Free expression does not exist to protect polite or popular opinions. It exists to protect those that anger, unsettle, or offend. And it is precisely when speech offends that our commitment to that principle is truly tested." 🎯

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 2d

"The right to offend is not a regrettable byproduct of free speech, it's the very point of it."

Hamit Coskun's conviction shows the way offensive speech is being criminalised, and a 'heckler's veto' created.

This is why we're supporting his appeal👇

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

Why we’re defending Hamit Coskun – and why it matters

Ahead of this week's appeal hearing, Stephen Evans says the NSS is supporting Hamit Coskun – not to defend his actions, but to defend the vital principle that free speech must include the right to off...

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 2d

Religious radio programmes are the least popular and least well received according to the BBC's own research. Join our campaign to reform BBC Radio 4's discriminatory #ThoughtForTheDay 👇👇👇 www.secularism.org.uk/thought-for-... #TftD

Reform ‘Thought for the Day’

Thought for the Day should include nonreligious contributions – or be scrapped.

www.secularism.org.uk

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Reposted by National Secular Society

FiLiA @filiacharity.bsky.social · 3d

💥 #FiLiA2025 session news 💥

MISSION & MISOGYNY: This session will reveal how the privileging of faith groups in the charity sector is enabling charities to promote/condone female subordination, sexist 'modesty codes' & even marital rape @natsecsoc.bsky.social

🎟️ filia.org.uk/tickets

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 3d

Those campaigning for an 'Islamophobia' definition often cite social cohesion as an aim. But this can't be achieved with a definition which negatively impacts the freedoms of people of other religions and beliefs.

www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...

Sikh group threatens legal action over Islamophobia definition

The Network of Sikh Organisations says a government-backed definition risks curbing freedom of religion and discriminating against other faith groups

www.thetimes.com

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 3d

Prayers shouldn't play a part in formal business of the state. We want parliament & councils to be equally welcoming to all attendees, whatever their personal beliefs. Join our campaign to end prayers in parliament & councils 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/end-governme... #ParliamentaryPrayers

End prayers in parliament and councils

Prayers aren’t government business.

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 3d

Today, about 5% of Church of England parishes officially object to women priests, though there are also churches where women’s ministry is unofficially curtailed."

Dr Sharon Jagger reminds us the CofE still has misogynist policies. theconversation.com/first-woman-...

First woman archbishop of Canterbury can’t preside over communion in hundreds of churches

Nearly 600 parishes officially bar women priests.

theconversation.com

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Patrick McAllister 🌱 @patdbmcallister.bsky.social · 4d

After speaking with them at the Green Party's conference this weekend, I finally got around to doing what I've meant to do for years, and joined @natsecsoc.bsky.social and @humanists.uk.

Consider joining, to support the secular, evidence-based state and society that the Green Party wants to see.

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 4d

Our human rights lead Alejandro Sanchez was in Holyrood last week calling for religious observance (RO) to be replaced with inclusive, non-confessional assemblies - and until such a time, for children to be granted a parallel right of withdrawal from RO.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

Repeal collective worship laws, NSS tells Holyrood committee

Religious observance should be replaced with "inclusive, non-confessional" assemblies, says NSS Read More »

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 4d

"Why should a child be able to choose to keep attending religious observance in school over their parents’ objections, but not to disengage from it if mum and dad insist they have to go?"

www.thenational.scot/news/2551810...

Andrew Tickell: Scotland’s schools still force children to pray. That needs to change

MY wee sister will never forgive me. In the early 2000s, you apparently couldn’t have a school assembly without involving God, prayers and Bible…

www.thenational.scot

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 4d

🗞️We're quoted:

Child abuse relating to religion or belief is increasing - and fear of criticising those beliefs can impede tackling this abuse.

The wellbeing of children must always be prioritised above any reluctance to criticise religion or culture.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Number of children abused because parents think they are witches soars

The number of children in England suspected of being abused because of witchcraft, sorcery and black magic beliefs has surged to its highest level on record, the Daily Mail can reveal.

www.dailymail.co.uk

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Megan Manson @meganmanson.bsky.social · 8d

Extremely encouraging news!!

National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 8d

BREAKING: The Government has announced it will reform England and Wales's outdated wedding laws - and the plans appear in line with our recommendations. An encouraging development for a freer, fairer marriage system 🥂 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

NSS welcomes Government announcement on wedding reform

Government plans echo NSS recommendations to make wedding law freer and fairer for couples of all religions and beliefs Read More »

www.secularism.org.uk

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National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 8d

BREAKING: The Government has announced it will reform England and Wales's outdated wedding laws - and the plans appear in line with our recommendations. An encouraging development for a freer, fairer marriage system 🥂 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

NSS welcomes Government announcement on wedding reform

Government plans echo NSS recommendations to make wedding law freer and fairer for couples of all religions and beliefs Read More »

www.secularism.org.uk

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mwoolley13.bsky.social @mwoolley13.bsky.social · 9d

Hard to believe what you’re hearing in these clips.
Reminder: it’s 2025

National Secular Society @natsecsoc.bsky.social · 9d

Female subordination. Sexist 'modesty' codes. Violence against women.

Our new report 'Mission and Misogyny' reveals that many registered charities are promoting these ideas - all under the cloak of 'advancing religion'.

Read it in full👇

www.secularism.org.uk/women/missio...

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