Leeds Atheist Society is a Leeds University Union

Leeds University Union

Leeds University Union is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building...

 affiliated free thinking

Freethought

Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...

 student society based at the University of Leeds

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...

. It was founded in 2006 and has since grown to become the most active free thinking student society in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 as well as being instrumental in the foundation of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies

National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies

The National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, or the AHS as it is more commonly known, is a national umbrella organisation for free thinking student societies in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It is composed of student societies many of which are...

.

Activities

As well as the group's regular activities, the society has developed and piloted many events which have gone on to be used on a national level by other groups in the United Kingdom. In particular the group was the first to develop the concept of a non-belief awareness week which has since been adopted by groups at the University of Southampton

University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...

, Durham University

Durham University

The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...

, University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...

 and on a national level by the British Humanist Association

British Humanist Association

The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...

.

In April 2009 the group appointed their first humanist chaplain

Humanist officiant

A Humanist officiant is a person who performs secular humanist celebrancy services for weddings, funerals, child namings, coming of age ceremonies, and other rituals...

.

Controversy

The group has faced controversy during several times in its history. In 2007 the group ran a talk entitled "I'll Mock Muhammad if I want to" as a talk on freedom of speech following the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...

. The talk itself did not contain any of the cartoons.

The group ran into further controversy in 2008 when the president submitted a motion for the Leeds University Union referendum to stop selling Halal

Halal

Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...

 and Kosher meat following the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendations in 2004 that such practices were unethical and should be stopped. The motion was rejected by the union council before going to ballot.

The group has also been the victim of several controversial events. In 2007 the group filed a discrimination complaint against the then-interfaith chair Rohana Mir. In 2009 the group's awareness week was overshadowed by death threats made against society members and vandalism of the society's property following a heated debate with the Islamic Society.

The group has also faced regular theft or defacement of its banners and posters.