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Artists, writers and activists have joined Index and other NGOs in calling on the Scottish government to redraft a proposed new bill.
Rowan Atkinson, Mary “Doll” Nesbit actor Elaine C Smith, Peter Tatchell and former Scottish Arts Council director Dame Seona Reid have written a joint letter to argue that the wording of the proposed Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, while well meaning, risks “stifling freedom of expression, and the ability to articulate or criticise religious and other beliefs”.
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Index's editor-in-chief and deputy chief executive Rachael Jolley is leaving Index after seven years with the organisation. Under her editorship, Index on Censorship magazine won and was shortlisted for numerous awards, and published important journalism from places around the world when censorship was threatening people's lives and livelihoods. She said: "It has been an honour to be editor of this prestigious magazine for such a long period. During this time, I have been lucky to work with incredible contributing editors and contributors who struggle against the worst types of censorship as well as working with highly acclaimed writers including Ariel Dorfman, Ian Rankin, Katherine Parkinson, Hilary Mantel and Xinran on new pieces of exclusive writing for the magazine. I hope the magazine continues to blaze a trail with its journalism and fiction. At a moment when censorship is increasing all over the world, there's never been a more important time to support freedom of expression.”
