JK Rowling has joined the virtual fight against Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Act, which came into force on 1 April.
According to her and other women who have spoken out in this regard, this is a law that will have a chilling effect on both freedom of expression and women’s rights.
Social media comments made by JK Rowling challenging Scotland’s new hate crime law were, unsurprisingly, reported as a hate crime.
Scottish police, however, dismissed all reports as unfounded. Although many complaints have been received, the police have declared that there is no crime in their publications.
The author of Harry Potter, who has been involved in controversy with trans activists, reacted to the news with the following comment on her profile on X: “I hope that every woman in Scotland who wants to talk about the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women – regardless of profile or financial situation – will be treated equally under the law.”
Rishi Sunak supports JK Rowling
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supported Rowling’s stance. Despite trying to avoid the subject, stating that it would not be right to comment on justice matters, he declared: “We shouldn’t criminalize people who say common sense things about biological sex, clearly that’s not right. We have a proud tradition of free speech.”
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said the hate crimes law was designed to deal with what he called a “rising wave of hate” in society.
The new Hate Crimes and Public Order Act
Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Act is 2021 but came into force on Monday 1 April. It makes it a crime to make derogatory comments based on disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.
Encouraging hatred based on race, colour, nationality or ethnicity was already illegal in Britain under the Public Order Act 1986. However, the new law, criticized by JK Rowling, goes further. It is not necessary for alleged hate speech about race, age, disability, sexual orientation or trans identity to be public; the police may intervene and investigate even if it is a private conversation.
Read more:
JK Rowling against the tyranny of gender ideologues
