JK Rowling’s ‘come and get me’ retort to Hate Crime Act is direct challenge to Yousaf

Resolute defence of author’s right to speak out about dangers posed by new law may now spark campaign to repeal it as soon as possible

Any thought that JK Rowling would sit back quietly and wait to be threatened with jail and arrested under the SNP’s latest legislative foul-up, known as the Hate Crime (Scotland) Act, was too daft for words.
And so it proved. Faced with the possibility of prosecution under an Act that carries a maximum seven-year jail sentence, the best-selling author didn’t for a second cast caution to the wind. Instead, she sailed straight into a calculated attack against Humza Yousaf’s determination to bring in a raft of new offences which threaten to end freedom of expression over the “trans” issue but which fail to protect women
The resolute defence of her right to speak out about the dangers posed by the new legislation may now spark a campaign to repeal the Act as soon as possible, even before it gains a foothold in public opinion.
There seems little doubt that with her wealth and popularity Rowling will not be intimidated by a government whose poll ratings have slumped and by activists who do not speak for most voters.
Support for a repeal campaign is coming already from Jim Sillars, a former Labour MP who’s also a one-time deputy leader of the SNP. He said that there was no legislation that could “make men become women or vice versa, or convert them into a third variety”. He urged Scots to “campaign for its repeal” and continue to speak out on any subject they wish.
As for the possibility that his comments might lead to his prosecution, he said: “I’ve deliberately put my views out there. Let’s see what happens.”
Rowling’s carefully calculated onslaught began almost before a hapless junior Nat minister had got the words out of her mouth – threatening her with possible prosecution.
Siobhian Brown, whose responsibilities are “victims and community safety” – haven’t heard of her? Neither have I – was the best that the First Minister could put up to try and explain to the rest of Britain on the Today programme what his controversial measure was all about. She tried her best, but faced with relentless and detailed questioning from Justin Webb, she got nowhere.
The Harry Potter author has faced numerous threats of prosecution over so-called “misgendering” – her refusal to back down from her view that trans women remained males – and when asked about whether Rowling would be prosecuted the minister said: “It could be reported and it could be investigated. Whether or not the police would think it was criminal is up to Police Scotland for that.”
In the face of this veiled threat, Rowling set social media on fire with a bold “Come and get me” response to the SNP government.
She said: “If what I’ve written here qualifies as an offence under the terms of the new Act, I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment.”
With her defiance of both the trans lobby and what’s now the law of the country, where she’s made her home, taking on a new dimension she posted pictures of 10 high profile trans people on Twitter and mocked their claims to be women.
These included Isla Bryson, convicted of two rapes and initially sent to a women’s prison and Borders’ butcher, Amy George, who abducted an 11-year-girl while dressed as a woman.
The author insisted that the new legislation is wide open to abuse by activists who wish to silence all those who have been speaking out about the dangers it posed to single-sex spaces for women and girls.
What’s clear is that Rowling is ready to tackle Mr Yousaf head-on over his bid to silence her. And just as she defeated his mentor, Nicola Sturgeon, over similar legislation on the “trans” issue, which was vetoed by the UK Government there will be many hoping the author chalks up another signal triumph.