Three in four Scots think sectarian abuse on social media is damaging the country

NEARLY three in four Scots think sectarian comments on social media are harming Scotland’s reputation but there remains a “high level of uncertainty” over what is a crime.

New research show that Scots are split over what is and what is not breaking the law when using sectarian language online.

The study by Youthlink Scotland and Scotcen Social Research found people were split over whether the use of the word “Fenian” was against the law or not, with 51% saying it was either probably or definitely and 36% saying probably or definitely not, with 14% unsure.

About one in six did not think posting sectarian comments on social media was even against the law.

The study comes a day before the Scottish Parliament is expected to pass Labour MSP James Kelly’s bill to scrap the controversial Offensive Behaviour Act which was aimed at tackling sectarian behaviour at football matches and was brought in following the Old Firm “shame game” between Rangers and Celtic in 2011.

The Sectarianism on Social Media report said: “The findings suggest that people are unsure what the current legislation concerning sectarian language online is.”

The findings also suggested a lack of knowledge in relation to the current most severe sentence for posting sectarian comments on social media.

One in four did not know what the most severe sentence for posting sectarian language is and a further 15% thought a community sentence was the most severe sentence with 13 % thinking it was a fine.

Only one in six correctly identified that the most severe sentence was a prison sentence of up to five years although 17% thought it would be a prison sentence of up to a year.