FAITH AND FREE SPEECH IN SCOTLAND TODAY

**FSU Edinburgh Discussion Forum: FAITH AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN SCOTLAND**
**Date:** Wednesday, 21st May
**Location:** The Counting House, 34 West Nicolson St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9DD
**Time:** Panel Discussion from 7:15pm to 9:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm), bar available until 10:30pm

As part of a Spring series of open forums on freedom of expression in Scotland, the Free Speech Union (FSU) is back at The Counting House, 38 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, for an engaging panel discussion, audience Q&A, and a chance to mingle afterward. Reserve your spot now to join the conversation.

In 2021, Scotland repealed its long-standing blasphemy law, centuries after the tragic execution of Thomas Aikenhead, an Edinburgh student who was the last person in the British Isles to be executed for blasphemy. Betrayed by peers who reported his irreverent remarks to church officials, Aikenhead faced testimony from five fellow students. In his final statement, he penned:
*”It is a natural and inherent trait in every person to yearn for truth and to pursue it as if searching for buried treasure.”*

While criticizing religious teachings no longer results in execution in Edinburgh, Scotland’s blasphemy laws have been succeeded by the controversial Hate Crime Act. This new law, which has sparked global criticism and dismay among Scots who value liberty, poses risks of arrest, fines, and jail time for those who challenge modern orthodoxies. Many traditional religious communities in Scotland opposed this legislation, fearing it could criminalize their deeply held convictions.

Religious advocates have played a significant role in influencing Scotland’s discourse on free expression, whether defending the rights of street evangelists, supporting pro-life perspectives, or voicing concerns about the free speech implications of proposed “conversion therapy” bans. Recently, the debate over buffer zones around abortion clinics gained international attention when US Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that private prayer in homes near clinics had been outlawed. Although the Scottish government refuted this, Vance’s comments echoed broader anxieties about the state of free speech in Scotland and the UK at large.

Can the ideals of tolerance and liberty coexist with a conservative religious outlook? Should atheists draw inspiration from Christian perspectives to strengthen their arguments for tolerance, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech?

Whether you’re a student, part