JK Rowling is 'spreading disinformation' about Scotland's new hate crime laws ... trends now
Harry Potter author JK Rowling and other critics of Scotland's new hate crime laws must stop 'peddling misinformation', Scotland's First Minister has said.
Humza Yousaf strongly defended the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act against claims it would hamper freedom of speech after it was introduced earlier this week.
JK Rowling criticised the Scottish Government's hate laws while posting pictures of 10 high-profile trans people and ridiculed their claims to be women.
Speaking at Glasgow's Prestwick Airport on Saturday, Mr Yousaf said: 'There's deliberate misinformation being peddled by some bad actors across Scotland - it's hardly surprising the Opposition seek to do that.
'What we've got is a piece of legislation that in the actual Act itself, explicitly in black and white, protects freedom of expression, freedom of speech.'
Humza Yousaf has strongly defended the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act against criticism
Harry Potter author JK Rowling sought to challenge the laws with tweets referring to transgender women as 'men'
The SNP leader went on: 'At the same time, it makes sure that it protects people from hatred being stirred up against them, and that is really important when we have far too many incidents of hatred that can be because of their age, disability, sexuality or religion.'
'There's no place for that in Scotland, and you have to send a really strong signal that the law will protect you.'
Rowling's comments were reported to Police Scotland as alleged hate crimes.
The force found she had committed no crime and also said it would not record a 'non-crime hate incident' against her.
She also said that most Scots were 'upset and offended by Yousaf 's bumbling incompetence and illiberal authoritarianism', following the introduction of the legislation on Monday.
Rowling wrote on X/Twitter: 'Most of Scotland is upset and offended by Yousaf's bumbling incompetence and illiberal authoritarianism, but we aren't lobbying to have him locked up for it.'
Asked what his message to critics such as JK Rowling would be, the Nationalist MSP said: 'I would tell them to stop spreading disinformation. It isn't going to help anybody.
'This is a piece of legislation that was passed by every single political party in Scotland, minus the Conservatives.'
On a visit to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Mr Yousaf said the description by Rowling was
