Scotland’s draconian hate speech went into effect on the 1st of April

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Scotland’s draconian hate speech went into effect on the 1st of April

Loveworld / 3 hours

April 4, 2024

1 min read

On Monday, Scotland implemented a new law targeting hate speech, eliciting both praise and criticism. Some commend its aims, while others express concerns about its broad scope potentially encompassing religious beliefs or insensitive humor.
The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act criminalizes behavior aimed at inciting hatred based on various characteristics such as age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity. This extends the existing ban on racial hatred established in 1986.
Violations of the law can lead to a maximum prison sentence of seven years.
Notably, the legislation does not explicitly address hatred against women. However, the Scottish government plans to address this through a separate forthcoming law targeting misogyny.
Siobhian Brown, the Scottish Minister for Victims and Community Safety, believes the new law will contribute to the creation of “safer communities that are free from hatred and prejudice.”