Scotland's anti-hate speech law threatens freedom of speech under the guise of protecting LGBTQ rights.
It could limit freedom of expression, many leading opinion makers and several respected conservative and left-wing bodies believed about the new law on incitement to hatred, which will come into effect in Scotland on April 1. Writer JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, immediately made an "April Fool's joke" out of the new legislation.
The text of the Scottish law, which was originally introduced in 2021, warns of "acts" that incite hatred against different groups or identities, such as transgender people.
Despite the vagueness of what constitutes hate speech, the maximum penalty for violating the new law is seven years in prison, The New York Times pointed out.
Although Scottish Prime Minister Hamza Yousaf, who was Minister of Justice at the time, spoke about how the law creates a balance between the protection of victims of hate crimes and the protection of freedom of speech, many points of the law are attacked even by the left-wing press.
While The Guardian, for example, called the new law controversial, SNP (Scottish National Party) Member of Parliament Joanna Cherry said this law
"trans rights activists will use it as a weapon to try to silence, or worse, criminalize women who don't share their views."
The text of the law, as JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels, pointed out, does not cover misogyny.
Scotland-based Rowling, who has been repeatedly targeted by LGBTQ and gender activists, spoke on April 1, the day the law came into effect, about several self-identified female but biologically male criminals who came out as transgender just before being convicted of various heinous crimes. them and expressed mock relief that their professed gender identity was being respected.
He later revealed it was an April Fool's joke, stating that "the people mentioned in the above tweets are not women at all, they are men" and challenged Police Scotland to arrest him under the new law.
Although the police did not arrest the writer, several people filed complaints against Rowling.
Meanwhile, American comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan lashed out. According to him, the law may also be used to take action against statements made by comedians on stage or during other theater performances, which, according to Rogan, could have negative consequences for the Edinburgh Fringe comedy festival held annually in the Scottish capital.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the owner of X, pointed out that the law in Scotland also underlines "why it is so important to preserve freedom of speech."
Cover image: English author JK Rowling, screenwriter
Source: MTI/EPA/Neil Hall
