The Scottish Government’s controversial law against sectarianism and religious hatred could be abolished, after every opposition party backed its repeal, it was reported in May.
The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 (OBFA) was roundly criticised when it was being drafted, for endangering religious liberty and free speech.
Brought in after a spate of violence during the 2010-11 football season, the law has been hugely unpopular. It came into force in Spring 2012 under Alex Salmond’s majority SNP Government. All the other parties opposed the Bill.
As well as addressing football-related conduct, the legislation included a religious hatred offence that threatened religious liberty.
It is now being reported that it is likely to be an early casualty of the new Scottish Parliament, after the SNP lost its overall majority. The Scottish Conservatives, Labour, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats have vowed to back legislation to scrap it. If all MSPs voted on party lines the Government would be defeated by two votes, 65 votes to 63.
