After JK Rowling’s daring stand against Scotland’s recent hate crime laws, Christians hope for the perfect

The Christian Institute has said that for now, “the law remains to be on the side of free speech” after worrying recent hate crime laws got here into force in Scotland earlier this month. 

There have been fears that the laws would clamp down on civil and non secular liberties, affecting especially Christians and critics of gender ideology. 

After Police Scotland said that JK Rowling’s tweets calling transgender women men weren’t against the law, The Christian Institute said that “we could be confident Christian views aren’t either”.

The final wording of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act includes protections for speech that will offend, shock or disturb others, and non secular protections that include proclaiming Christ because the only Saviour. A free speech clause protects discussions around sexual orientation and transgenderism. 

“Taken together, this package of measures means the Act, properly applied, mustn’t affect the liberty of Christians to correctly and faithfully declare biblical truth,” Simon Calvert, Deputy Director (Public Affairs) at The Christian Institute.

However, the organisation said that “confusing messaging” from Police Scotland and the Scottish government had “seriously exacerbated the chilling effect” on debate.

It said it’s going to proceed to campaign for the ‘stirring up hatred’ offence to be repealed.

“It can be higher if the ‘stirring up hatred’ offence had not been introduced. It must be repealed. Vexatious complaints and a chilling effect on debate were inevitable,” said Mr Calvert.

“The Scottish Government was reckless to introduce such a law in our censorious culture, where disagreement is commonly portrayed as hatred.” 

The Christian Institute said it remained to be seen whether law enforcement officials would properly apply the law, pointing the case of street preacher Angus Cameron who was arrested in Glasgow city centre for a supposed ‘hate crime’ after a criticism from a member of the general public about using “homophobic language”, which he denied. 

He was supported by The Christian Institute in taking legal motion against Police Scotland and in January won £5,500 for illegal detention and £9,400 in legal costs.

Mr Calvert asked Christians to hope for religious freedom in Scotland.

“Under intense pressure, Police Scotland has been quick to say, rightly, that JK Rowling’s tweets weren’t against the law. We could be confident Christian views aren’t either,” he continued. 

“Yet we saw with Angus Cameron’s case that law enforcement officials don’t at all times understand the law. Given that, at best, they’ve only had two hours of online training on the brand new Act, there is a real danger of comparable mistakes.

“Better public messaging and higher police training is important to ensure this does not occur. And we’re continuing to call for the ludicrous policy of recording ‘non-crime hate incidents’ (just like the one involving Angus Cameron) to be abandoned.

“Please give thanks for the gospel freedom we enjoy, and pray it’s going to proceed to be upheld.”