NSS Encourages First Minister To Review Misogyny Enabling Charity Law

The National Secular Society has urged Scotland’s First Minister to reconsider “the advancement of religion” as a charitable objective.

The National Security Service informed Humza Yousaf in a letter that charity legislation, which provides a platform for “religiously inspired misogyny” to flourish, was “undermining” his effort to mould positive masculinity. The goal of the campaign is to end violence and sexism against girls and women.

As an example, the NSS cited a recent sermon by the pastor of the Christian charity Rosyth Baptist Church, in which he asserted that “a husband is the head of his wife” (‘Submit and love’).

It said the sermon was “degrading and discriminatory” and “validates behaviour that could be considered coercive and controlling”.

In addition, the NSS brought attention to the Scottish charity regulator’s inaction following a pastor’s statement that a woman’s “primary function” is “to be married, to have children, and to tend to household affairs” at Moray Coast Baptist Church.

An official from the agency stated that “religious beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010” and that “clear and direct harm” was required before any action could be taken.

Promoting misogyny “is clearly harmful” and equality legislation protects people, not their ideas, according to the letter. According to the report, the regulator’s failure to address misogyny demonstrates that religion is more important than the protected trait of sex.

It went on to say that the regulator would not stand for the same kind of sexism being spread by a secular charity.

“We welcome efforts by the First Minister to address the attitudes underpinning misogyny and violence against women and girls,” stated Alejandro Sanchez, a campaign officer for the National Socialist Party (NSS).

“However, he will be swimming against the current as long as religious charities are allowed to spread misogyny with impunity.

“If the Scottish government is serious about tackling misogyny it must stop enabling discrimination promoted by religious organisations. This means ending their tax breaks and removing their charitable status.”