National Secular Society

New report: Mission and Misogyny

Religious privilege in charity law, including the charitable purpose of 'the advancement of religion' opens the door to the promotion of extremism and hate, including against women and LGBT people.

Our latest report outlines how this must be tackled👇

www.secularism.org.uk/women/missio...

Christian charity: homosexuality is "lewd, unnatural and vile" Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) also warns wives should not 'nag like a dripping tap' Read More »

We've reported three religious charities to the Scottish regulator for promoting virulent homophobia and misogyny - including describing homosexuality as a "distortion of Satan", and advising that wives should not 'nag like a dripping tap'.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

Faith school which has never passed Ofsted inspection fails again Ahavas Torah Boys Academy has been judged unacceptable since 2014 Read More »

An independent faith school which has never met the independent school standards since opening has failed another inspection – nine in a row.

Failures at schools with a religious character should be no more tolerated than they would at a nonreligious school.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

Help us to defend free expression A page set up for specific donations to Hamit Coskun's legal fees

"The criminal law... is not a mechanism that seeks to avoid people being upset. The right to freedom of expression must include the right to express views that offend."

The CPS is seeking to appeal this vital judgement - but we're resisting.

Help us👇

www.secularism.org.uk/support-hami...

Just an idea, but maybe we should sever this archaic institution from our state apparatus 🤔 #DisestablishmentNow @natsecsoc.bsky.social

UN endorses NSS recommendations on clerical abuse in Spain UN Committee on the Rights of the Child calls for reparations for victims and an end to religious exemptions to mandatory reporting Read More »

We're pleased to say the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has endorsed our recommendations to tackle clerical abuse in Spain, including some we gave in oral testimony to the UN in Geneva.

Read the full story👇

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

Help us to defend free expression A page set up for specific donations to Hamit Coskun's legal fees

Reminder: you can now donate to our legal fund, to help us resist the CPS' appeal against the acquittal of Hamit Coskun.

This is a vital battle for free expression - and for that to include expression which challenges or offends.

To donate👇

www.secularism.org.uk/support-hami...

📣 Support the legal battle for free speech!

Hamit Coskun's acquittal, after being convicted of a public order offence, was a vital judgement. That's why we're going back to court to defend it against a CPS appeal.

Please consider chipping in👇

www.secularism.org.uk/support-hami...

The CPS, by appealing Hamit Coskun's acquittal, seems determined to establish a blasphemy law by the back door.

We're quoted on why this stance sets a dangerous precedent by handing a heckler's veto to those most willing to take offence.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

Help us to defend free expression A page set up for specific donations to Hamit Coskun's legal fees

Next week, we'll be back in court to defend Hamit Coskun's acquittal against a CPS appeal.

This is a crucial battle for freedom of expression - which is why we're asking our supporters to help us with the cost of fighting it.

To donate👇

www.secularism.org.uk/support-hami...

Rethink RE We need a new subject to teach children about worldviews, citizenship and ethics.

58% of British adults think #ReligiousStudies is unimportant at secondary schools. And a quarter of England's secondary schools do not offer #ReligiousEducation. Time to rethink RE. 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/21st-century... #Education

The shameful legacy of the archbishops of Canterbury, old and new - The Freethinker This is an edited version of a piece by National Secular Society (NSS) President Keith Porteous Wood which…

With the recent confirmation of the new archbishop of Canterbury, Keith Porteous Wood takes a look back at the shameful record of her and her predecessors in dealing with abuse in the Church of England. @natsecsoc.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2026/02/the-...

Time for the morally deficient Church of England to be stripped of its privileges Stephen Evans argues that the Church of England abuse scandal means it's time to abolish the bishops' bench. This piece was originally published in The Freethinker. Read More »

You can read our CEO's op-ed on why the moral deficiencies of the church highlight the injustice of its established status, including the place of 26 bishops in the House of Lords:

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2024...

Church of England has failed to prevent abuse, archbishop admits In her first speech as Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally called for an ‘independent scrutiny of our safeguarding practices’

Sarah Mullally says that the church must submit to “independent scrutiny of safeguarding practices”.

But the long shadow of disgrace over the abuse scandal must also mean an end to the church's privileged access to the levers of power.

#Disestablishment

www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...

Religion and Charity Law – Time for Reform? During a speech last Thursday, which was dominated at least at first by the latest Peter Mandelson scandal, the Prime Minister spoke about Britishness.  During his remarks, Sir Keir …

"Advancement of religion has been recognised as a charitable purpose for centuries. But this head of charity now seems archaic."

mentioned in this latest piece from Prof. Russell Sandberg on why charity law must be urgently reformed👇

sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/02/09/r...

Scottish Government faces calls to stop funding ritual circumcision of children with NHS cash Scottish Government discovers it is only nation in UK to offer the service for non therapeutic reasons, amid calls to pull the plug

The use of public money to fund the ritual genital cutting of children is entirely inappropriate.

Our human rights lead is quoted on why the Scottish Government must heed the calls for reform coming from within the NHS itself👇

www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow...

Struck off circumcision doctor still circumcising boys NSS calls for Government action to protect boys amid "catastrophic failure of child safeguarding" Read More »

The lack of regulation of ritual circumcision is an utter failure of safeguarding.

When it comes to children, circumcision should only be performed by doctors, and only with medical necessity.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

Struck off circumcision doctor still circumcising boys NSS calls for Government action to protect boys amid "catastrophic failure of child safeguarding" Read More »

A struck off GP who hospitalised a baby after a "reckless" circumcision is still performing circumcisions as a layperson.

The lack of regulation of this practice is a catastrophic failure of child safeguarding that is endangering the lives of boys.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

NHS doctor struck off over botched circumcision still performing operation ‘Catastrophic failure of safeguarding’ highlighted by fact Zuber Bux’s lay practice is legal, campaigners say

"The fact that Mr Bux can perfectly legally continue to circumcise boys is a catastrophic failure of child safeguarding that is endangering the lives of boys."

Our human rights lead is quoted👇

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

It’s difficult see how any guidance can make the current law on collective worship compliant with the recent Supreme Court decision that required religion in schools to be critical, pluralistic and objective. Legislative reform is required.

New report: Mission and Misogyny

Our latest report, Mission and Misogyny, uncovers the extent to which regressive and harmful ideas about women are furthered by fundamentalists exploiting our charity sector.

You can read it in full - including our recommendations for sector reform👇

www.secularism.org.uk/women/missio...

PM’s pledge of more powers to close charities promoting extremism draws sector concerns

The lack of regulatory power to sanction charities which promote harmful ideas is regularly demonstrated by the issuing of ineffectual 'advice and guidance' to repeat offenders.

The Charity Commission must be empowered to act.

We're mentioned:

www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/pm-s-pl...

Amendments to strengthen children’s rights defeated NSS backed amendments to introduce mandatory child rights assessments and improve transparency on faith based admissions Read More »

Two amendments to the Children's Wellbeing and School Bill, which we had backed, to strengthen children's rights in education and other areas have been defeated in the House of Lords.

Read the full story👇

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

School says religiously restricted curriculum “non-negotiable” Bnois Jerusalem Girls School does not allow pupils to sit any recognised qualifications Read More »

If ignoring the law is ‘non-negotiable’ for religious groups, then they should not be running a school. School standards protect the rights and wellbeing of children - they must be robustly enforced at all schools, no matter their religious character. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

Disestablish the Church of England A state religion has no place in a 21st century democracy.

The UK is one of the last western democracies with a state religion: the #ChurchofEngland. The Church's entanglement with the state is bad for both. Join our campaign to disestablish the Church. 👇👇👇 www.secularism.org.uk/disestablish... #Disestablishment #SeparateChurchAndState #CofE

How central should religious buildings be to new town planning? Architects are creating places of worship that also function as civic hubs in a bid to foster connection in the community. But it’s not the answer to everyone’s prayers

Public spaces should be designed for the whole community, and to promote social cohesion.

We're quoted on why religious voices shouldn't be privileged in town planning👇

www.ft.com/content/4e41...

I was proud to attend this event on behalf of NSS. For these brave women, hijab was emphatically not a choice. Their stories must be heard; it speaks volumes that they have had to use aliases and the venue needed extra security. #NoHijab #NoHijabDay

NSS supports ‘No Hijab Day’ discussion in Leicester Event featuring ex-Muslim women required extra security following protests from Islamic groups. Read More »

Ex-Muslims have shared their stories of being forced to wear the hijab at an event in Leicester that we supported - despite the hosts receiving complaints, and a police visit, over the event poster👇

@leicsecularsociety.bsky.social

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

NI Executive announces review of Religious Education syllabus Decision comes after Supreme Court found RE and collective worship in Northern Ireland breach human rights Read More »

Whilst moves to a more balanced syllabus are welcome, the NI Executive’s review of RE is overshadowed by its failure to abolish collective worship.

The Minister of Education is wrong – forcing children to pray at school isn’t desirable.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/02...

Government to 'update' collective worship guidance Move comes after landmark Supreme Court ruling over religious education in Northern Ireland

The government is planning to “update” its guidance on collective worship in England’s schools.

We're quoted in Schools Week on why this is insufficient. No amount of revised guidance can fix a fundamentally outdated law.

schoolsweek.co.uk/government-t...