Social media comments made by JK Rowling challenging Scotland’s new hate crime law are not being treated as criminal, Police Scotland has said. The Harry Potter author described several transgender women as men, including convicted prisoners, trans activists, and other public figures.
The new law creates a new crime of “stirring up hatred” relating to protected characteristics. Since the law came into effect on Monday, Police Scotland has received more than 3,000 complaints but no action will be taken regarding JK Rowling’s comments.
Reacting to the news, Ms. Rowling posted on X: “I hope every woman in Scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women – irrespective of profile or financial means – will be treated equally under the law.”
Katie Neeves, a trans woman who was mentioned by Ms. Rowling in a previous social media thread, accused the author of inciting hatred against her and expressed disappointment that the police would not be taking action. Neeves stated that Rowling’s comments resulted in her receiving thousands of messages of hate and misinformation about her spread worldwide.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak backed Rowling’s stance on free speech, stating that people should be able to express common sense views about biological sex without facing criminalization. However, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf emphasized the importance of taking a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime, citing a recent incident of racist graffiti near his home.
Supporters of Rowling welcomed the decision by Police Scotland not to pursue criminal charges, with For Women Scotland noting that it was a great relief for her to be protected. Despite the controversy surrounding the hate crime law, the Scottish government plans to introduce a separate law to tackle hatred and harassment of women by the end of the parliamentary term in 2026.
In summary, the debate over free speech and hate crime legislation continues to be a contentious issue in Scotland, with Rowling’s comments sparking significant discussion on the balance between protecting rights and preventing harmful speech.
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