The Freethinker

Cohesion strategy: Fine words on free speech – but still too timid on religion - The Freethinker The Government's new social cohesion strategy contains welcome language on free speech and liberal values – but reveals a continuing tendency to pander to faith-based pressure, argues Stephen Evans.

The Government's new social cohesion strategy contains welcome language on free speech and liberal values – but reveals a continuing tendency to pander to faith-based pressure, argues @stephenmevans.bsky.social of the @natsecsoc.bsky.social.

freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/cohe...

Iran: Between Bombs and Theocracy - The Freethinker 'Beneath the bombs and the theocracy is a society that has repeatedly risen in revolt.'

'Beneath the bombs and the theocracy is a society that has repeatedly risen in revolt.' @maryamnamazie.bsky.social on war, revolution, and the future in Iran.

freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/iran...

Freethought History Webinar #9: Bradlaugh and India: A Trans-Imperial History of Freethought and Republicanism. With Barathy M.G. (14 April 2026). - The Freethinker An invitation to the ninth in our Freethought History Webinar series.

Announcing the next Freethought History Webinar! Join us on 14 April to hear Barathy M.G. discuss the connections between British and Indian freethinkers - particularly those between Charles Bradlaugh, @natsecsoc.bsky.social founder, and India.

freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/free...

Women’s Blasphemy and the State - The Freethinker Blasphemous. Corrupt. Apostate. Kafir. These words are always defined from the perspective of the religious. The religious lens…

Today in the Freethinker, @maryamnamazie.bsky.social writes about the importance of blasphemy to human freedom - particularly women's blasphemy.

'In [theocratic/authoritarian] systems, being a woman is in and of itself an act of blasphemy.'

freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/wome...

Happening later TODAY! Still time to register.

Happening later TODAY! Still time to register.

Freethought History Webinar #8: Annie Besant, Secularist and Feminist. With Lucie Lemieux (3 March 2026). - The Freethinker An invitation to the eighth in our Freethought History Webinar series.

Reminder: the next Freethought History Webinar, ft. Lucie Lemieux on Annie Besant, pioneering secularist and feminist, is happening TOMORROW. Still plenty of time to register!

freethinker.co.uk/2026/01/free...

View the whole series here.

freethinker.co.uk/tag/richard-...

Interview with Richard Carrier: The Quest for the Historical Jesus (Part 3 of 3) YouTube video by Freethinker UK

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvFI...

Interview with Richard Carrier: The Quest for the Historical Jesus (Part 3 of 3)—Critics, Peer Review & the Future of Bible Scholarship - The Freethinker Richard Carrier has a PhD in Ancient History and the History of Philosophy from Columbia University. He specialises…

Watch the third and final instalment in Akash Srinivas's interview with @richardcarrier.info on the historicity, or lack thereof, of Jesus.

freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/inte...

Hamit Coskun: The modern-day blasphemy case that should never have been brought - The Freethinker Stephen Evans hails the High Court's dismissal of the CPS appeal as a victory for free expression – but he says it raises serious questions about how such a flawed case was ever authorised.

Reflections from Stephen Evans in the wake of Hamit Coskun's court victory, where the prosecution tried to reinstate a de facto blasphemy charge against him.

'It was an absurd submission that shames the CPS.'

@natsecsoc.bsky.social @stephenmevans.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/hami...

The freedom to believe is not the freedom to dominate - The Freethinker Dina-Perla Portnaar is known for the Dutch memoir, Exodus from the Lighthouse—Exodus uit de vuurtoren, about her restrictive…

Today in the Freethinker, Dina-Perla Portnaar introduces her forthcoming philosophical novel and reproduces her speech about freedom of belief, given earlier today at a UN side event.

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

Interview with Richard Carrier: The Quest for the Historical Jesus Part 2—Historicity, Theory and Practice - The Freethinker Richard Carrier has a PhD in Ancient History and the History of Philosophy from Columbia University. He specialises…

Today in the Freethinker, Akash Srinivas continues his interview with Richard Carrier on the historicity of Jesus. Third and final part coming next week!

@richardcarrier.info

freethinker.co.uk/2026/02/inte...

PEN America: Open Letter from Writers Urging Release of Iranian Poet - The Freethinker I am very proud to have signed this open letter from PEN America expressing solidarity with jailed Iranian…

We've republished this important letter of solidarity.

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

Freethinker editor @danieljamessharp.bsky.social is proud to be one of the signatories.

Waqf Amendment Sparks Legal, Political, and Communal Storm Across India - The Freethinker ‘Over the past decade, I’ve had countless disagreements with the [Hindu nationalist] BJP government and its policies. However,…

Today in the Freethinker, Puja Bhattacharjee looks at the Indian Waqf Amendment Act of 2025 - another sign of the decline of secularism and minority rights in India?

freethinker.co.uk/2026/02/waqf...

Convicted for blasphemy in modern Britain: an interview with Hamit Coskun - The Freethinker An interview with the man recently convicted for burning a Quran in public.

Convicted for blasphemy in modern Britain: an interview with Hamit Coskun, by Daniel James Sharp

freethinker.co.uk/2025/06/conv...

A victory for free speech: the Hamit Coskun ruling - The Freethinker National Secular Society chief executive Stephen Evans on why quashing a Quran-burning conviction is a vital win for free speech.

A victory for free speech: the Hamit Coskun ruling, by Stephen Evans @natsecsoc.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2025/10/a-vi...

Coskun’s conviction is a surrender to Islamic blasphemy codes - The Freethinker Establishing a right not to be offended sounds the death knell for free expression, says National Secular Society CEO Stephen Evans.

Coskun’s conviction is a surrender to Islamic blasphemy codes, by Stephen Evans @natsecsoc.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2025/06/cosk...

Image of the week: Hamit Coskun, victim of a new form of blasphemy law? - The Freethinker The conviction on 2 June of Hamit Coskun for setting a Quran alight in public has rightly worried…

Image of the week: Hamit Coskun, victim of a new form of blasphemy law?

freethinker.co.uk/2025/06/imag...

Blasphemy Laws 2.0: The conviction of Hamit Coskun - The Freethinker If you thought blasphemy laws had been officially abolished in Britain, think again. A recent case illustrates that…

Blasphemy Laws 2.0: The conviction of Hamit Coskun, by Noel Yaxley.

freethinker.co.uk/2025/06/blas...

The hearing to reinstate Hamit Coskun's conviction for burning a Quran is happening tomorrow. If successful, a de facto anti-blasphemy law will have been upheld. Check out some of our previous coverage of the Coskun case - wherein the essential value of free speech is defended. 🧵

Interview with Richard Carrier: The Quest for the Historical Jesus Part 1—Historical Method and the Question of Jesus - The Freethinker Richard Carrier has a PhD in Ancient History and the History of Philosophy from Columbia University. He specialises…

Today in the Freethinker, Akash Srinivas interviews @richardcarrier.info about the historicity of Jesus. This is the first of three interviews - keep an eye out for the next instalments, coming soon!

freethinker.co.uk/2026/02/inte...

Free speech at stake in Quran-burning case, NSS warns High Court to hear CPS appeal against quashing of Hamit Coskun's conviction. Read More »

Tomorrow, a court will deliberate on a CPS appeal of the quashing of Hamit Coskun's conviction.

If the appeal is successful, it could effectively establish a blasphemy law by the back door.

Read the full story of our support for the case👇

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

INTERNATIONAL DARWIN DAY YouTube video by Roderick Bradford

See also this special video produced by Rod Bradford, our friend at The Truth Seeker.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7XU...

A Thought for Darwin Day: The Perfect Scam - The Freethinker To celebrate Darwin Day (Charles Darwin’s birthday), let’s look at how Darwin, unwittingly and unfortunately, played into the…

Today we celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin with an article by John Richards. @atheismuk.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2026/02/a-th...

INTERNATIONAL DARWIN DAY YouTube video by Roderick Bradford

See also this special video produced by Rod Bradford, our friend at The Truth Seeker.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7XU...

A Thought for Darwin Day: The Perfect Scam - The Freethinker To celebrate Darwin Day (Charles Darwin’s birthday), let’s look at how Darwin, unwittingly and unfortunately, played into the…

Today we celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin with an article by John Richards. @atheismuk.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2026/02/a-th...

A good time to revisit our coverage of the Coskun case, including our interview with Coskun himself.

freethinker.co.uk/2025/06/conv...

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...