Speak freely

Despite suggestions that the Hate Crime bill that Humza Yousaf has put before Holyrood may be amended, there remain many deeply concerning problems about the whole matter. Like the road the Hell, the way is paved with good intentions with this bill and blunt questions must be asked about it.

If inflammatory written materials are to be made illegal, what about the copy of “Mein Kampf ” that I used in my academic studies? Can I understand Hitler’s mindset without it? What of passages in the Koran which are regularly trotted out by Islamists? Will he ban that holy book?

Certain communities who have established themselves in this country do not observe the same treatment of their womenfolk as we do. Will I be prevented from saying that I don’t like (say) Martians because they refuse to shake hands with women, or damage their genitals, or beat them, or fly them to Mars at the age of 16 and marry them off to 70 -year-old Martians? Surely that would be an unacceptable inhibition on my free speech and would prevent appalling behaviour being put under the spotlight. Surely, Mr Yousaf remembers how the police in certain English cities ignored Asian gangs who were making English girls into sex-slaves in case they were thought racist? Is his bill not another attempt to prevent the exposure of unacceptable views to the clear light of day in the same way that the behaviour of these gangs was protected by inhibitions about questioning the behaviour of different cultures? Surely, these things must be open to scrutiny?

The only way to deal with people is to allow free speech. When it is in the open, those who voice their views have to justify them. In the light of day, those openly-expressed opinions which cannot withstand scrutiny can be taken apart, as is normal in a free society.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh