JK Rowling will not be arrested under new Scottish hate law, say police
JK Rowling's remarks, in which she dared the police to arrest her for misgendering someone online, have been deemed by Police Scotland as not constituting a criminal act.
The new hate crime law by the Scottish government was implemented on Monday. A gender-critical activist and author posted on X, stating that the legislation can easily be misused. This was followed by a list of transgender individuals who have a history of sexual offenses, along with recognized trans women activists, being labeled as "men" by the author.
According to her, Scotland will no longer have freedom of expression and individual beliefs if it becomes illegal to accurately describe biological genders.
Police Scotland has stated that they have received reports regarding a post made on social media on Tuesday afternoon. They have examined the comments made, but have concluded that they do not constitute any criminal activity and therefore, further action will not be pursued.
The action combines presently enforced statutes. Based on the new Scottish Hate Crime and Public Order Act of 2021, making insulting remarks regarding age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or being intersex is considered a criminal offense.
In reaction to the ruling, Rowling expressed her hope that any Scottish woman who wants to voice the significance of biological sex will feel comforted by this news. She also believed that it is imperative that all women, regardless of their status or financial situation, will be treated equally by the law.
On Tuesday, it was verified that the discriminatory writings discovered near the Broughty Ferry residence of Humza Yousaf the day before were documented in accordance with the new law.
The head leader expressed that the graffiti, including offensive language towards his race, highlights the importance of Scotland's strict policy against hatred. He stated on a certain date that he tries his hardest to protect his kids from the constant racism and discrimination he encounters. However, this task is more difficult with the appearance of graffiti near his family's house that is directed at him because of his Muslim religion.
The leader of the Scottish National party strongly stood up for the new law, which has received a lot of criticism regarding its enforcement and potential impact on free speech. There are concerns that the law could be misused against specific groups, such as feminists who do not adhere to certain gender perspectives.
According to Yousaf, the measure guarantees individuals the right to express themselves without fear of repression. Additionally, it offers protection against the increasing prevalence of discriminatory sentiments that have unfortunately become a regular occurrence in our community.
On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was questioned about Rowling's statement. Sunak stated that he would not discuss matters concerning the police, but he did express his belief that people should not face legal repercussions for making logical remarks about biological gender.
The head of campaigns and human rights at Stonewall, Robbie de Santos, has stated that the prime minister and prominent commentators are wrong in claiming that being incorrect about someone's gender or 'stating facts on biology' could result in a criminal offence.
Claiming that the current law has made it illegal to criticize religion is false and inaccurate. Such wrongful representation of the act and its intention only belittles the actual harm that is being inflicted on us in the guise of hatred.
In his blog, he urged politicians to tackle the concerning issue of increasing hate and violent acts against the LGBTQ+ community. He highlighted the fact that there are already laws in place that prohibit the promotion of hatred based on race and religion, and he welcomed the new Hate Crime Act which extends these legal protections to encompass sexual orientation, transgender identity, age and disability.
