Proposals will restrict religious free speech
A religious charity has warned Scottish ministers it is ready to mount a legal challenge against plans to end conversion therapy.
The Christian Institute has been among the fiercest critics of the draft legislation, arguing the “alarming” proposals harm freedom of religion which could imprison parents or church groups for up to seven years.
Joanna Cook, a public affairs officer for the charity, has now warned ministers the group will take it “all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary”.
The charity said the proposals are “vaguely worded, dangerously broad and would catch innocent, harmless behaviour”, giving the example of a parent potentially prosecuted for preventing her 12-year-old son from going to school with make-up or a dress on.
Ms Cook said the charity had commissioned legal advice from human rights lawyer Aidan O’Neill KC, who said the proposals are “ill thought out” and “fundamentally illiberal in intent and effect”. Mr O’Neill went on to argue he believes the proposals are “beyond the legislative competence” of Holyrood” due to the “intrusion into private and family life”.
Ms Cook said: “There are already strong laws on the statute book to protect gay and trans people. Existing law thankfully tackles verbal and physical abuse in Scotland today.
“But those campaigning for a conversion practices law aren’t content with that. They want a new speech crime. A thought crime. And, I’m afraid, the Scottish Government’s proposals give them that.
“The proposals are vaguely worded, dangerously broad and would catch innocent, harmless behaviour.
“The government’s plans to introduce ‘conversion practices protection orders’ are especially alarming.
“They would hand the courts very broad powers to restrict the free speech of individuals based purely on activists’ speculation.”