STUDENTS and church leaders have called on the Scottish Government to take action to ensure that anti-terrorism measures planned by the Home Office do not limit freedom of speech north of the Border.
Under the UK Government's proposals, speakers at universities would be vetted for extremist views and nurseries would have to monitor children for signs of radicalism.
The plans, contained in a consultation document accompanying the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, have sparked a backlash from human rights groups, children's organisations and religious leader
The Church of Scotland described the legislation as "ill-advised" and joined students who said they feared it would introduce suspicion and surveillance to university campuses in calling on the Scottish Government to mitigate any potential impact on freedom of speech.
Gordon Maloney, president of the National Union of Students Scotland, said: "Universities and colleges have a long and proud history as places where the sharing of information, free speech and academic freedom are encouraged and celebrated.
"This Bill has no place in our universities or colleges, where we should encourage those positive values over suspicion and surveillance. More generally, the Bill has no place in Scotland, which has rightly taken a more inclusive and partnered approach to addressing these issues."
He said if the UK Government, which legislates on counter-terrorism as a reserved issue, was to carry on fast-tracking the Bill, he wanted the Scottish Government and representative bodies to "develop and implement separate, Scottish-specific guidance, which best meets the needs of our institutions, staff and students".
Sally Foster-Fulton, convener of the Church and Society Council of The Church of Scotland, said that following the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, the UK Government had come out "firmly saying we have to protect human rights, protect freedom of speech".
"This legislation seems to run completely counter to that," she said.
"The legislation is ill-advised and counter-productive. Ideally I would hope the UK Government would reconsider. But if the Scottish Government could do something to moderate this, it would be great."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Whilst Counter Terrorism is a reserved issue, we need to ensure that any new UK Government proposals fit with what is a separate and distinct Scottish legal system, respects the current devolution arrangements and are taken in the context of proper engagement and consultation with the public bodies who would be affected by these proposals in Scotland."
Ministers would continue to work closely with the UK Government, he said.
A Home Office spokesman said: "There is no contradiction between promoting freedom of speech and safeguarding the interests and well-being of students, staff and the wider community."
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