Scottish parliament to consider legalising incest

Under terms of devolution, the Scottish parliament has to consider all petitions if it proposes a change in law

The Scottish government will be forced to consider legalising incest owing to a loophole in the devolution agreement.

On Tuesday, a petition calling for the legalising of incest, where both parties “are consenting adults over the age of 21”, was submitted by a man named Richard Morris who lives in Australia.

The parliament's petition committee will have to consider the request lodged on the Scottish government's e-petition's website. Under the terms of devolution, the Scottish parliament has to consider all petitions if it proposes a change in the law.



Morris said, in the background information to his petition, the current block on Adult Consenting Incest (ACI) was based on 'bigotry'.

“Public fears, prejudice and bigotry about ACI are mostly due to ignorance created over many years mostly by the church and church-influenced governments and newspapers, in much the same way as public fears and bigotry about homosexuality were created," he wrote in his petition.

The petitioner added, “In general, societies have a tendency to target isolated individuals and to attack anything perceived to be different as a threat." Further, he said the Scottish law on incest was “outdated” as public opinion towards sex and relationship was far more liberal than when it was last reviewed in 1981.

Morris claimed to have written a book about incest and has sent letters to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Queen calling on them to do more to legalise consensual incest, however, provided no evidence to the committee.



The petition, however, is unlikely to go any further as Labour MSP Michael McMahon said, "I recognise the petition addresses a subject matter that many people find abhorrent. Speaking personally, I take a similar view."

Currently, incest carried a maximum sentence of two years in prison when both parties are consenting adults.

Many took to Twitter following the submission of the petition.

@rcpoliticsuk Petitioner seeks to legalise incest between consenting adults in Scotland https://t.co/3cOLYpueoK pic.twitter.com/KHSufbNX6A

— Scots Catholic (@ScotsCatholic) January 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/garrygordon79/status/691998044020154368

#Scotland - #Parliament is being forced to consider legalising incest because of low threshold on e-petitions https://t.co/unvb7uNrJn

— Kevin Deveaux (@KEDeveaux) January 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/cstross/status/692110229346082816

Latest from the #SNP.
Scottish MSPs to debate bid to legalise incest between consenting adults in Scotland. https://t.co/K1aOSm8sPI

— UK Justice Forum 🇬🇧 Latest Video News Updates! (@Justice_forum) January 27, 2016

This article originally appeared on Independent