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Source: Yahoo News
A controversial bill making its way through Scotland's Parliament would criminalize hate speech even if the offending words were uttered in someone's private home.
Members of the Scottish Parliament questioned Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf for the first time on Tuesday about the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill, which would establish a new crime, "stirring up hatred."
The legislation criminalizes hate speech relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, and variations in sex characteristics, including potentially hate speech spoken in private residences.
After criticism from groups saying the bill threatens to stifle free speech, Yousaf agreed to amend the legislation when it reaches stage two of consideration in Parliament. The amendment will stipulate that offenders may only be prosecuted if they had "intent" to stir up hatred. Yousaf also agreed to again examine protections for free speech in the bill.
"I'm very actively considering both the breadth and the depth of freedom-of-expression clauses," the justice secretary said. "We have to be aware of some of the concerns that may be expressed if we were to have a generic freedom-of-expression clause, would that be specific enough to give people the reassurances that they desire?"
Several groups have sounded the alarm over the new legislation, including BBC Scotland, Catholic bishops, the Humanist Society of Scotland, and the Scottish Police Federation.
Glasgow Tory MSP Adam Tomkins, who is convener of the justice committee, cautioned during his questioning of Yousaf that the bill may take censorship of speech too far.
Please go to Yahoo News to read the entire article.
Poll shows 57% of young Muslims in France believe Sharia law more important than national law
Source: Yahoo News
Scottish Bill Would Criminalize 'Hate Speech' in Private Homes
National Review | October 29, 2020
A controversial bill making its way through Scotland's Parliament would criminalize hate speech even if the offending words were uttered in someone's private home.
Members of the Scottish Parliament questioned Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf for the first time on Tuesday about the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill, which would establish a new crime, "stirring up hatred."
The legislation criminalizes hate speech relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, and variations in sex characteristics, including potentially hate speech spoken in private residences.
After criticism from groups saying the bill threatens to stifle free speech, Yousaf agreed to amend the legislation when it reaches stage two of consideration in Parliament. The amendment will stipulate that offenders may only be prosecuted if they had "intent" to stir up hatred. Yousaf also agreed to again examine protections for free speech in the bill.
"I'm very actively considering both the breadth and the depth of freedom-of-expression clauses," the justice secretary said. "We have to be aware of some of the concerns that may be expressed if we were to have a generic freedom-of-expression clause, would that be specific enough to give people the reassurances that they desire?"
Several groups have sounded the alarm over the new legislation, including BBC Scotland, Catholic bishops, the Humanist Society of Scotland, and the Scottish Police Federation.
Glasgow Tory MSP Adam Tomkins, who is convener of the justice committee, cautioned during his questioning of Yousaf that the bill may take censorship of speech too far.
Please go to Yahoo News to read the entire article.
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These are not good people pic.twitter.com/OqvuiahCWb
— Orwell & Goode (@OrwellNGoode) October 28, 2020
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