National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social
1.2K followers 340 following 460 posts
Campaigning for separation of religion and state, challenging religious privilege and promoting equality between all citizens regardless of religion or belief. #Secularism #Secular
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natsecsoc.bsky.social
We campaign for an inclusive, secular society where no religion is unfairly privileged. Join us in our stand for equality, freedom, and fairness. Become a member of the National Secular Society today: 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.
secularism.org.uk
natsecsoc.bsky.social
"This latest ruling – a model of clear and rational reasoning – is a necessary and welcome corrective to a deeply flawed original judgment."

Our chief exec's op-ed on the significance of Hamit Coskun's successful appeal👇

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...
A victory for free speech: the Hamit Coskun ruling
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans on why quashing a Quran-burning conviction is a vital win for free speech. Read More »
www.secularism.org.uk
Reposted by National Secular Society
meganmanson.bsky.social
Thank you @victoriapeckham.bsky.social for giving a shout-out to @natsecsoc.bsky.social’s report on how charity law enables religious misogyny. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
🗞️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.
Reposted by National Secular Society
stephenmevans.bsky.social
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...
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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...
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www.telegraph.co.uk
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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...
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www.telegraph.co.uk
natsecsoc.bsky.social
🗞️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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
Reposted by National Secular Society
judyw.bsky.social
"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." 🎯
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
Reposted by National Secular Society
filiacharity.bsky.social
💥 #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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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
Reposted by National Secular Society
patdbmcallister.bsky.social
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.
natsecsoc.bsky.social
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