Hate Crime Act Comes Into Force in Scotland Amid Fears of Witch Hunt

Opponents of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, which comes into force on Monday, say people could become the subject of witch hunts like in the McCarthyite era in the United States in the 1950s or the Cultural Revolution in China. The legislation creates a new offence of “stirring up hatred” against people with certain so-called protected characteristics, which include age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. The Scottish Union for Education (SUE) said many universities and other institutions north of the border have set up 411 “hate reporting hubs” that encourage students to make anonymous complaints about staff and other students....