The Harry Potter writer, a gender critic, made the remarks on Monday, when the crime of “stirring up hatred” in opposition to age, handicap, faith, sexual orientation, and transgender identification took impact.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak advocated for her, saying “frequent sense” regarding organic intercourse shouldn’t be criminalisé.
Rowling’s social media publish prompted complaints to Police Scotland. “The feedback are usually not assessed to be legal and no additional motion shall be taken,” a spokeswoman said.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf claimed the legislation will “defend folks from a rising tide of hatred”.
“Until your habits is threatening or abusive and supposed to incite hatred, then you don’t have anything to fret about with the brand new offenses,” he said.
The Scottish Nationwide Celebration-led administration in Edinburgh is contemplating sexism adjustments, however girls are usually not protected.
Scotland has led the best way in transgender rights, however London thwarted a previous transfer to make it easier to change a authorized gender on account of worries it will violate equality legal guidelines.
Commentators have additionally raised worries in regards to the new hate crime legislation’s affect on free expression and its potential to suppress women-only house advocates.
Rowling crossed the road by placing 10 trans girls, together with a convicted rapist, intercourse abusers, and high-profile campaigners, as males on X.
“Freedom of speech and perception are at an finish in Scotland if the correct description of organic intercourse is legal,” she added.
I’m quickly overseas, but when what I’ve mentioned right here violates the brand new statute, I anticipate to be jailed after I return to the cradle of the Scottish Enlightenment.”
Scottish authorities have indicated the brand new laws wouldn’t criminalize misgendering.
On Monday, Minister for Victims and Neighborhood Security Siobhan Brown instructed BBC radio it will be as much as police.
Sunak mentioned Britain had a wealthy free speech heritage and that the brand new laws had misaligned police targets.
“We must always not criminalize folks saying frequent sense issues about organic intercourse,” he instructed reporters. “Clearly fallacious.”
Rowling talked about Britain’s first transgender newsreader, India Willoughby, who questioned why folks ought to “publicly denigrate and mock” trans folks.
“What a pitiful sight. The world’s most well-known writer staying up all night time to compose a giant troll piece about me as a result of she hates trans folks. Utterly insane,” Willoughby mentioned.
The Scottish Police Federation mentioned officers had been implementing new laws with restricted sources.
“We’re anticipating a excessive variety of social media publish complaints and it’ll clearly create numerous additional work,” it said.