All posts tagged: NSS

NSS supports ‘No Hijab Day’ discussion in Leicester

NSS supports ‘No Hijab Day’ discussion in Leicester

Published by Sam Flores

Ex-Muslims have shared their stories of being forced to wear the hijab at an event in Leicester supported by the National Secular Society. The event, which took place on Sunday 1st February to commemorate ‘No Hijab Day’, was hosted by Leicester Secular Society (LSS) and featured a panel of five ex-Muslim women from around the world. No Hijab Day aims to highlight that millions of women worldwide are forced to wear hijab, often under threat of violence or even death. This includes Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old Iranian Kurdish woman who died in 2022 after being viciously beaten by Iran’s ‘morality police’ for not wearing ‘correct’ hijab. The event prompted protests from Islamic groups, which accused LSS of being “Islamophobic” and said promoting No Hijab Day is “offensive”. The protests prompted LSS to arrange extra security for the event, which was funded by the NSS. Hijab is “tool of control” ‘Khan’, who left Islam in 2013, said wearing the hijab was “not a choice”. Raised in Pakistan, she was forced to wear a burqa …

Protect character of nonreligious Welsh schools, NSS urges

Protect character of nonreligious Welsh schools, NSS urges

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has urged the Welsh Government to introduce new protections against proselytising/evangelism and creationism in non-faith schools. Writing to Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle, the NSS said there was a “clear need for stronger, more explicit safeguards”, as demonstrated by the case of Llanidloes High School in Powys. This month, a Powys County Council investigation found the school to have been “operating fully within the relevant legislation and Welsh Government guidance”, despite evidence the headteacher had attempted to convert children to Christianity. The NSS originally raised concerns about the school in 2024, after uncovering evidence of evangelism including creationist wall displays (pictured), school planners with biblical ‘advice’, and regular assemblies promoting Christianity. In its letter, the NSS told the Welsh Government that regardless of whether such practices fall within the letter of existing guidance, they are “not appropriate, acceptable, or inclusive”, highlighting the risk of “marginalising pupils and families of different beliefs”. The NSS said that if existing Welsh Government guidance and legislation permit headteachers to proselytise/evangelise through schools, as in …

Include religious slaughter in animal welfare strategy, NSS urges

Include religious slaughter in animal welfare strategy, NSS urges

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has called for a review of religious exemptions to animal welfare laws, after a new Government animal welfare strategy failed to mention them. Writing to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Renolds, the NSS said it was “difficult to understand” the strategy’s failure to mention non-stun slaughter, given its stated aim of preventing animals suffering avoidably and reliance on scientific evidence. The law requires animals to be stunned before slaughter to minimise their pain, suffering and distress. The only exemption is for Jewish and Muslim communities to meet kosher and halal religious dietary preferences. Despite consensus amongst animal welfare experts that it is more humane to stun an animal prior to slaughter, the Animal Welfare Strategy fails to mention religious exemptions which allow non-stun slaughter. In its letter, the NSS noted that the Government’s own advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council, the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and the British Veterinary Association have all supported ending non-stun slaughter to improve animal welfare at the time of …

NSS calls for Government action after latest circumcision death

NSS calls for Government action after latest circumcision death

Published by Sam Flores

Following the death of a six-month-old boy, the National Secular Society has again called on the Government to protect children from non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC). Mohamed Abdisamad died in February 2023 from an “Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infection following male circumcision”. Above: NSS human rights lead Dr Alejandro Sanchez discusses the case on LBC radio The assistant coroner in the case, Dr Anton van Dellen, sent a prevention of future deaths report to the Department of Health and Social Care last month. The report notes the complete lack of regulation of NTMC and states: “In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action.” It echoes concerns repeatedly raised by the National Secular Society, which campaigns to protect all children from medically unnecessary genital cutting. There is no legal requirement for circumcisers to be medically trained or even to have “proven expertise”. Previous calls by NSS to protect boys ignored In a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes …

Repeal outdated collective worship laws, NSS urges Government

Repeal outdated collective worship laws, NSS urges Government

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has urged the Government to abolish the statutory requirement for collective worship in publicly funded schools in England, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling which found collective worship in Northern Ireland breaches human rights. The law in England requires that children at all maintained schools “shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship”. Even in schools with no religious character, the worship must be “wholly or mainly of a Christian character”. Similarly, Northern Ireland compels state-funded schools to “include collective worship whether in one or more than one assembly” every day. Writing to Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson, the NSS said the Court’s ruling provides a “clear opportunity for principled reform”, with many of the fundamental human rights conflicts “equally present in England’s collective worship law”. The judgment clarified that education and school practices which are not delivered in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner amount to “pursuing the aim of indoctrination”, thereby breaching human rights law. Additionally, it found NI’s approach to religious …

PM quizzed on NSS report on religious charities promoting misogyny

PM quizzed on NSS report on religious charities promoting misogyny

Published by Sam Flores

The Prime Minister has been questioned on the findings of the National Secular Society’s report on religious charities which promote misogyny. At Prime Minister’s Questions today, Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling said the NSS’s Mission and Misogyny report highlighted “alarming numbers of extremist organisations in the UK promoting hideous views about women” registered as charities. As registered charities, they are “eligible for various tax exemptions, as well as thousands or even millions of pounds of public money through gift aid”. He asked: “As part of the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls, will the Prime Minister support my campaign for a review of charity law and regulation so that we can make sure the UK taxpayer is not funding hate and extremism through this route?” He highlighted how the former president of one religious charity, the Islamic Sharia Council, had denied the existence of marital rape, and how another charity, IslamBradford, had signposted material promoting female genital mutilation (FGM). Other charities have said a woman must serve her husband …

NSS concerned by leaked anti-Muslim hostility definition

NSS concerned by leaked anti-Muslim hostility definition

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has raised concerns about the reported wording of a definition of anti-Muslim hostility being considered by the Government. A working group tasked with developing a definition of anti-Muslim hatred / Islamophobia is understood to have delivered its findings to the Government in October. According to the BBC, the wording of the definition endorsed by the working group omits the term ‘Islamophobia’ – a move welcomed by the NSS, and says: “Anti-Muslim hostility is engaging in or encouraging criminal acts, including acts of violence, vandalism of property, and harassment and intimidation whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated, which is directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims because of their religion, ethnicity or appearance. “It is also the prejudicial stereotyping and racialisation of Muslims, as part of a collective group with set characteristics, to stir up hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals. “It is engaging in prohibited discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within …

NSS seeks Government assurances on anti-Muslim hatred definition

NSS seeks Government assurances on anti-Muslim hatred definition

Published by Sam Flores

The National Secular Society has called on the Government to guarantee a new definition of anti-Muslim hatred will be subject to public consultation. A working group, tasked with developing a definition of anti-Muslim hatred / Islamophobia is understood to have delivered its findings to the Government in October. Writing to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the NSS raised concerns that the Government’s handling of the process to reach a finalised definition risked “limiting necessary discussion and debate”. It asked Reed to guarantee that any proposed definition will be subject to a “full, open, and transparent public consultation before being adopted or implemented in any form”. The NSS has consistently warned that ‘Islamophobia’ definitions and terminology stifle freedom of speech relating to religion, highlighting how accusations of Islamophobia have already been used to suppress lawful and necessary public debate. It has met with the working group to raise its concerns. Reed has previously said he would reject any definition that restricts freedom of expression, stating that people “don’t have a …

End Christian bias in schools, NSS tells NI Department of Education

End Christian bias in schools, NSS tells NI Department of Education

Published by Sam Flores

Northern Ireland should abolish its collective worship laws and reform religious education and relationships and sex education, the National Secular Society has said. Last month, NI’s Department of Education (DoE) launched a survey “inviting schools and education stakeholders to help develop a new curriculum framework”. Responding to the survey, the NSS highlighted the recent ‘JR87’ case, in which the UK Supreme Court found that collective worship (CW) and religious education (RE) in NI breach human rights. The court found RE and CW in NI are not “objective, critical, and pluralistic” and therefore amount to “pursuing the aim of indoctrination”. It said the parental right of withdrawal is not sufficient to protect parents’ fundamental rights due to the “undue burden” it creates. The NSS said it is “clear” the status quo for RE, CW and relationships and sex education (RSE) “cannot continue” in light of the judgement. Reacting to the ruling last week, NI education minister Paul Givan said schools should continue to provide RE based on the “holy scriptures”. Members of his party, the Democratic …

Peer calls for review of religious charities following NSS report

Peer calls for review of religious charities following NSS report

Published by Sam Flores

A report by the National Secular Society on the promotion of misogyny by religious charities was debated in Parliament today. Liberal Democrat peer Lorely Burt asked the Government what steps it is taking to “ensure charities cannot use ‘the advancement of religion’ charitable purpose to advance ideologies which promote misogyny, sexism or violence against women”. The question was prompted by the NSS report Mission and Misogyny: Religious charities promoting sexism, patriarchy and violence against women, which was published in September. “No charity worth its salt should ever promote misogyny” Baroness Burt said that while all charities have “certain responsibilities to fulfil in order to qualify as charities” and receive “generous tax advantages”, some charities registered under the charitable purpose of ‘the advancement of religion” promote misogynistic ideology in the name of religion. She referenced the NSS’s report, which found examples of charities’ sermons and material saying a woman must serve her husband by cooking and cleaning, blaming rape on how women dress, and saying it is acceptable for a husband to hit his wife if …