{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/hate-crime-and-public-order-scotland-act-2021/section-9",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/hate-crime-and-public-order-scotland-act-2021/section-9.json",
  "legislation": "asp/2021/14",
  "legislation_title": "Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/hate-crime-and-public-order-scotland-act-2021",
  "path": "section/9",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "9",
  "heading": "Protection of freedom of expression",
  "text": "For the purposes of section 4(2), behaviour or material is not to be taken to be threatening or abusive solely on the basis that it involves or includes—\n(a) discussion or criticism of matters relating to—\n(i) age,\n(ii) disability,\n(iii) sexual orientation,\n(iv) transgender identity,\n(v) variations in sex characteristics,\n(b) discussion or criticism relating to, or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule or insult towards—\n(i) religion, whether religions generally or a particular religion,\n(ii) religious beliefs or practices, whether religious beliefs or practices generally or a particular religious belief or practice,\n(iii) the position of not holding religious beliefs, whether religious beliefs generally or a particular religious belief,\n(c) proselytising, or\n(d) urging of persons to cease practising their religions.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 9 in force at 1.4.2024 by S.S.I. 2024/82, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "ssi/2026/150",
      "affecting_title": "The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (Characteristic of Sex) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/14/section/9",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:12:31.262790+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}