Criticism of RELIGION must not be criminalised in a secular state.
In a secular society all religions must accept that their worldview will be examined and criticised in open dialogue and debate. This government must make a commitment to protect free speech as regards a citizen's right within a secular society to examine and criticise any religion or ideology.
Signatures
13
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 13/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 13/100,000
- 12 MAY 2025Petition rejectedno-action
Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action. The Government have said that they are not going to introduce blasphemy laws: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-12-18/debates/ba455fa1-fb15-4e1b-b4c9-884dfdaeb83e/CommonsChamber#contribution-76ACDC1C-F8FF-4664-AA99-BE235577FE72 It is therefore unclear what further action you would like the Government or Parliament to take.
- 30 APR 2025Petition created
Background
This petition is needed because the government is set on a course of action that could by default censor the British public's ability to openly examine or criticise a religion. This governement is creating a council that would draw up an official definition of ‘Islamophobia’ of which the next step would be the potential to impose a blasphemy law. A secular society cannot allow critique of a religion to be branded as hate speech or racism. The government must protect free speech, not censor it.