By Figaro with Reuters
Published 6 hours ago, Updated 5 hours ago
Scottish justice will not prosecute JK Rowling for her comments on the new law against incitement to transgender hatred. AFP/Dia Dipasupil
Scottish Police said through their spokesperson that the Harry Potter author’s comments “were not considered criminal and would not be the subject of any legal action.”
JK Rowling’s comments posted on . Via its spokesperson, the police institution declared that the position of the author ofHarry Potter “was not considered criminal”.
This decision by the police and therefore the Scottish justice system follows the defiant attitude of JK Rowling who had posted that if her comments “were considered an offense under the terms of the new law, she would look forward to being arrested on her return to Edinburgh (where she lives, Editor’s note) after my trip abroad ».
On social networks, JK Rowling explained how badly she feels about this new Scottish legal provision: “The legislation is a wide open door to abuse by activists who want to silence those of us who speak out about the dangers of removing women-only spaces”.
These comments obviously put into perspective this new Scottish law which criminalizes “incitement to hatred linked to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity”. Significant support, the novelist’s position was supported by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who declared that “people should not be criminalized for making common sense comments about biological sex”.
Also read J.K. Rowling and Rishi Sunak oppose Scottish law against incitement to transgender hatred
Scottish Prime Minister Humza Yousaf, in office since March 29, 2023, was keen to clarify the ambitions of the law promulgated on April 1: “It aims to protect people against the rising tide of hatred”. But concerning those, like JK Rowling who did not adhere to her principle by arguing, in particular, absolute respect for “freedom of speech”he added: “Unless the behavior is threatening or abusive and aims to stir up hatred, then you (speaking in barely veiled words to the novelist Editor’s note) have nothing to fear from the new charges thus created.”
Beyond JK Rowling’s opinion, the new law passed by the Scottish Parliament continues the standoff between London and Edinburgh. In 2022, Scotland enacted texts granting rights to the transgender community. But a previous legislative attempt to make sex change easier was blocked by the British government. The latter feared that this would weaken existing equality legislation.
