Национальное атеистическое общество призывает правительство Великобритании расследовать духовное насилие

NSS backs call for Government action on spiritual abuse Posted: Thu, 3rd Sep 2026 NSS signs open letter urging Government to commission national call for evidence into spiritual abuse The National Secular Society has joined more than ten organisations and individuals calling for the Government to tackle spiritual abuse. A open letter co-ordinated by Surviving Universal UK, and signed by campaigners, abuse specialists and politicians, urges the Government to "commission a national call for evidence into spiritual and cultic abuse". The letter highlights that while people across the UK are "experiencing coercion, exploitation and abuse within religious, spiritual and other high-control environments", this form of abuse remains "dangerously overlooked within our safeguarding response". "We believe everyone has the right to practise their faith, spirituality or beliefs free from coercion, exploitation and abuse," the letter says. "Protecting people from harm is not an attack on faith". The letter calls for an inquiry to examine the "scale and nature" of spiritual abuse, in addition to "survivor experiences" and "gaps in existing safeguarding systems". The letter follows the recent conclusion of an inquiry by the Parliament of Victoria in Australia into coercion and harm in high control groups. The letter was signed on behalf of the NSS by its vice president Richard Scorer, who is also head of abuse law at Slater and Gordon. Scorer also represented over 100 victims and survivors in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which included examination of abuse in religious settings. Surviving Universal UK was founded by Rachael Reign, who suffered spiritual abuse at the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) – a registered religious charity. The NSS has long raised concerns about religious charities promoting or facilitating spiritual abuse, including UCKG, the Jehovah's Witnesses, and charities which have conducted gay 'conversion' practices. It has also worked to raise awareness of 'witchcraft abuse' in some religious communities, which often manifests as abusive 'exorcisms' on children. Church of England guidance permits exorcisms on minors, including without the consent of parents of children aged 16 years. In 2023, the NSS published research which found the admissions policies at some state-funded faith schools may amount to coercive control. NSS: Government must listen to victims and survivors NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "While the Government has rightly directed its attention to the harmful practice of 'conversion therapy', this is just one manifestation of the wider issue of spiritual abuse. "It is particularly concerning that charities, and even some state-funded faith schools, may be facilitating abuse and coercive control. "We join campaigners in urging the Government to listen to victims and survivors of spiritual abuse, and take every measure necessary to end these harms." Join the NSS! Joining the NSS as a member is the best way to support our work. Become part of the movement for a freer, fairer, secular society. Sign up today for as little as £2.