National Secular Society

National Secular Society

@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Campaigning for separation of religion and state, challenging religious privilege and promoting equality between all citizens regardless of religion or belief. #Secularism #Secular

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National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Debate on reform of the Lords has seen peers raise rightful concerns over lobbying by the 26 Anglican bishops who sit as of right in the chamber. We've welcomed the interventions: Parliament must have no reserved seats for religious clerics. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukBishops’ lobbying raised in House of Lords reform debateLib Dem peer: "nobody should sit in our legislature by virtue of a job in one church" Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

The Court of Appeal has upheld a judgement ruling faith schools can have admissions policies which disadvantage children based on race. The exemptions to the Equality Act which enable this are nothing short of scandalous. Read more👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukFaith school allowed to disadvantage black children, court findsCourt: CofE school admissions policy which disadvantaged black families is "proportionate means" of preserving religious ethos. Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We welcome the Church Appointments Bill passing the Commons as a first step in wider reform. But why in 2026 is the prime minister still involved in appointing bishops? The long-term answer is a clear separation of Church and state. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukNSS welcomes Church Appointments bill as first step in wider reform'The logic of the Bill forces us to ask other questions about religion in public life', says Labour MP Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

A nonreligious community school in Hampton Wick is at risk of takeover by the Church of England. We've urged Richmond Council to preserve schooling that welcomes families of all backgrounds and beliefs equally. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukProtect community school from CofE takeover, NSS urges councilConsultation on proposed school merger contains "false promises, factual errors and misleading statements", NSS says Read More

National Secular Society reposted

Russell Sandberg
@sandbergrlaw.bsky.social

Today Parliament will debate the removal of the ban on Catholics and Jews advising on Church appointments. This is a welcome move but it’s just a sticking plaster. Stephen Evans is right to say that the opportunity should be used to look at the matter more widely.

National Secular Society@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We called on Andy Burnham, Britain's first Catholic PM, to end the bar on Catholic and Jewish PMs advising on Church appointments. As a Bill to do so is debated this week, Stephen Evans argues that no PM should be appointing bishops at all👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

secularism.org.ukChurch appointments reform should be just the beginningThe Government's move to end religious discrimination in Church appointments should be the first step towards a more fundamental separation of Church and state, argues Stephen Evans. Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We've joined the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain in coordinating a letter from 15 organisations urging the UK Government to act for Betty Lachgar, jailed in Morocco for 'blasphemy' over a t-shirt she wore in London. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukNSS and ex-Muslims lead call for Betty Lachgar’s freedomJoint letter coordinated by NSS and Council of Ex-Muslims urges action on Moroccan activist jailed for 'blasphemy' over t-shirt Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Our head of campaigns, Megan Manson, tells Charity Times it is "unacceptable" that proposed new Charity Commission powers will fail to protect women and LGBT people - who are so often the target of harmful dogma promoted by religious charities. www.charitytimes.com/ct/Women-and...

charitytimes.comWomen and LGBT people ‘fair game for hate’ under proposed trustee banning powersThe Government is being warned that its plans to extend the powers of the Charity Commission to ban trustees who promote violence and hatred do not go far enough to protect women and LGBT people.
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We called on Andy Burnham, Britain's first Catholic PM, to end the bar on Catholic and Jewish PMs advising on Church appointments. As a Bill to do so is debated this week, Stephen Evans argues that no PM should be appointing bishops at all👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

secularism.org.ukChurch appointments reform should be just the beginningThe Government's move to end religious discrimination in Church appointments should be the first step towards a more fundamental separation of Church and state, argues Stephen Evans. Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We're quoted in Scene Mag on the failure of proposed new Charity Commission powers to tackle hatred directed at LGBTQ+ people and women👇 www.scenemag.co.uk/religious-ch...

scenemag.co.ukReligious charities could continue promoting homophobia under new watchdog powers, campaigners warnCampaigners have warned that new powers proposed for the Charity Commission could still leave LGBTQ+ people exposed to homophobia from religious charities. The National Secular Society (NSS) has welc...
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Plans to extend the Charity Commission's powers to challenge extremism in charities are long overdue - yet we're concerned the proposals fall far short of tackling the most egregious problems in the sector, and fail to protect women and LGBT people. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukWomen left unprotected by new charity powers, NSS saysNSS warns proposals could still permit religious charities to promote misogyny and homophobia Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We're urging the Foreign Secretary to intervene in the case of Najmeh Amini, an Iranian woman sentenced to death for 'blasphemy'. No one should face imprisonment, let alone execution, for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Read the full story 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukNSS urges Government action on Iran ‘blasphemy’ death sentenceNajmeh Amini reportedly convicted of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad Read More
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@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Prayers have been formally reintroduced to Derbyshire County Council's constitution by Reform UK, despite opposition. Local government meetings should be conducted in a manner equally welcoming to all - not weaponised for religious identity politics. uk.news.yahoo.com/reform-uk-fo...

uk.news.yahoo.comReform UK formally reintroduce prayer to Derbyshire County Council meetingsMembers of Reform UK's Derbyshire County Council administration campaigned on a platform of regaining England's identity as a "Christian nation"
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

"If Reform genuinely believed council meetings should be inclusive and accessible regardless of religion, it would oppose all council prayers". Read our head of campaigns' recent op-ed on the imposition of prayers on council meetings 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

secularism.org.ukThe weaponisation of council prayersAt least three Reform-controlled councils have imposed prayers on meetings. Megan Manson says this reflects a Christian nationalist agenda which threatens our country's most treasured values. Read Mor...
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Our head of campaigns is quoted in the Mail on Sunday on why religious charities publishing sermons which could encourage domestic violence and marital rape must be held to account by authorities, including the regulator. Read the full piece👇 www.dailymail.com/news/article...

dailymail.comBritish imams telling men to beat their wives if they say NO to sexSitting before his many followers, a preacher dressed in white urges the men to hit their wives if they refuse to be 'called to bed for intimacy'.
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We've written to the foreign secretary, urging him to intervene in the case of Anojan Sivarasa - a man sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for insulting Islam and Muhammad. No one should face criminal sanction, let alone execution, for so-called 'blasphemy'. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukNSS calls for Government intervention in Saudi ‘blasphemy’ caseAnojan Sivarasa sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for alleged blasphemy against Islam and Muhammad Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Northern Ireland’s new RE syllabus falls short of being objective, critical, and pluralistic. Its continued prioritisation of Christianity perpetuates the subject's historic biases - disregarding the Supreme Court’s findings in the ‘JR87’ case. Read more 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukNew Northern Ireland RE syllabus preserves Christian bias, NSS saysReplacement for syllabus found to indoctrinate pupils is insufficiently objective, NSS warns Read More

National Secular Society reposted

Stephen Evans
@stephenmevans.bsky.social

A mosque in London with charitable status is facing an investigation after it published sermons encouraging husbands to strike their wives and condoning the execution of gay people. Coverage of @natsecsoc.bsky.social investigation in The Mail 👇 www.dailymail.com/news/article...

dailymail.comIslamic preacher tells men to beat their wives if they refuse to obeyVideos Videos published on the Hackney Islamic Community Centre's YouTube describe gay sex as 'evil', and urge men to 'discipline' their wives for disobedience.

National Secular Society reposted

The Freethinker
@thefreethinkermag.bsky.social

Today in the Freethinker, Dr Antony Lempert criticises the 'regulatory wilderness' of the UK's laws on male circumcision - and how it has led to tragic outcomes, including the death of young boys. @natsecsoc.bsky.social freethinker.co.uk/2026/10/cult...

freethinker.co.ukCultural Relativism, Religious Privilege, and a Regulatory Wilderness: The Dangers of Infant Male Circumcision - The FreethinkerThe tragic deaths of two London babies, Mohamed Abdisamad and Oliver Asante-Yeboah, bore striking similarities, though they occurred…
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

A Green campaign coordinator has suggested the party knowingly attempted to circumvent rules barring charities from endorsing political parties or candidates. Seeking religious endorsements risks fuelling sectarian politics and community division. More👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/10...

secularism.org.ukGreen official: Mosques backed by-election candidates “undercover”Coordinator of Hannah Spencer MP's campaign says mosques backed candidates despite charitable status Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

Mosques must follow the same rules as every other charity, yet together with the Green Party, a number appear to have knowingly attempted to circumvent rules barring charities from endorsing political parties or candidates. We’re quoted @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

thetimes.comMosques ‘secretly endorsed Greens in breach of rules’The by-election campaign co-ordinator for Hannah Spencer claimed mosques were so disappointed with Labour they were willing to ‘break ranks’, despite charities having to be politically impartial
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We're quoted on our referral of a London mosque which promoted "lightly hitting" women, calling for a review of the 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose - which enables the promotion of ideas which fuel discrimination, division and abuse. www.dailymail.com/news/article...

dailymail.comIslamic preacher tells men to beat their wives if they refuse to obeyVideos Videos published on the Hackney Islamic Community Centre's YouTube describe gay sex as 'evil', and urge men to 'discipline' their wives for disobedience.
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

"Boycott her in bed... and discipline them physically as well, by lightly hitting them to show who is in charge." These are the words of a sermon delivered at a London mosque which, as a registered charity, receives tax breaks to undertake 'the advancement of religion'.

National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

We've reported Hackney Islamic Community Centre to the Charity Commission after it promoted "physical discipline" for "disobedient" wives, including those who refuse their husbands sex, and condoned the execution of gay people and accused 'witches': www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/09...

secularism.org.ukCharity sermon says men can hit wives ‘to show who’s in charge’Preacher at Hackney mosque condones death penalty for gay men and people accused of 'witchcraft'. Read More
National Secular Society
@natsecsoc.bsky.social

The most effective way to end conversion practices is to end the demand, which is fuelled by religious organisations promoting homophobia. This often takes place via our charity and education sector. This isn’t acceptable. We've urged NI assembly to act. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/09...

secularism.org.ukTackle homophobia in charities and schools, NSS tells NI AssemblyNSS highlights registered charity conducting "change orientated therapy" for "homosexual behaviours" Read More