Scotland s New Blasphemy Law – Law & Liberty

The Scottish government s proposed Hate Crime and Public Order Bill, first introduced in April 2020, was so overreaching that it managed to inspire the creation of the Free to Disagree grassroots campaign, uniting even the Catholic Church and the National Secular Society in opposition. The Scottish National Party (SNP) led government sneaked a maximum seven-year prison sentence for stirring up hatred into a bill repealing a 200-year-old dormant blasphemy law. Such a law would have a chilling effect on free speech and expression, since, as the Scottish Police Federation explained, it would force officers to police what people think or feel.

Yet, Scotland s Justice Secretary, Humza Yousaf, insisted that policing expression be it in public, online, or even at private dinner parties is necessary in order to stamp out hate. In 2018, the government launched a joint campaign with the Scottish police, urging people to report any hate crimes and non-criminal incidents they might have witnessed. It was concern for the rise in so-called hate crimes that prompted the SNP to commission an independent review into the matter, and subsequently conclude that a one stop shop for hate crime would be best.

via lawliberty.org

How do you say “ai chihuahua” in Scottish?

But seriously, folks, are these people insane? Policing even *private* expression?