Protesters rallied outside the Scottish Parliament on Monday, 1 April, as the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into effect.
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The act consolidates existing hate crime legislation and creates a new offence of stirring up hatred against protected characteristics.
Women have not been given protection under the law; the Scottish Government says separate laws will tackle misogyny.
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JK Rowling, a prominent critic of the Scottish Government’s stance on transgender rights and the legislation, appeared to challenge police to arrest her if her social media posts break new laws.
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“If what I’ve written here qualifies as an offence… I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment,” Ms Rowling said.
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