JK Rowling vows to defend 'lower-profile women' if they're pursued by police for 'simply calling a man a man' - after cops refused to arrest author for her trans tweets amid backlash at Scotland's new

JK Rowling says she hopes all women will be treated equally by Scotland's new controversial hate crime laws – after police decided not to take any action against her over tweets she made about transgender people. She is not facing action from Police Scotland over tweets she shared about trans women Rowling said the assessment by Police Scotland should 'reassure' women that 'irrespective of profile or financial means will be treated equally under the law' Protesters demonstrated outside the Scottish Parliament as the country's new Hate Crime Law came into effect on Monday JK Rowling has unleashed her furor at Scotland's new hate crime law which could see people arrested for using a transgender person's wrong pronouns The Harry Potter author sarcastically posted a long thread on X/Twitter on transgender women as she criticised Scotland's new Hate Crime Act which came into force on April 1 On Tuesday, the legislation descended into chaos as Police Scotland confirmed that it had 'received complaints' about a social media post in which the writer had named 10 trans women as men but said it would take no action. Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf, who has championed the new Hate Crime Act that came into force on Monday The legislation was supported by Scottish Labour MSPs, including leader Anas Sarwar But shadow cabinet minister Pat McFadden says Labour will not propose similar legislation south of the border - despite giving the Scottish law its support Mr Sarwar added: 'I don't want us to get involved in trying to police thought.' The hate crime bill, introduced on Monday, criminalises 'threatening or abusive behaviour' intended to stir up hatred against someone's identity People hold up signs as they protest outside the Scottish Parliament on Monday as the new legislation came into effect SNP MP Joanna Cherry said: 'Pleased to see my good friend JK Rowling exercise her rights to freedom of speech and freedom of belief by tweeting in defence of women's rights' As the 58-year-old's comments whipped up a social media storm, the Prime Minister entered the row, saying: 'People should not be criminalised for stating simple facts on biology. The Scottish Government's Hate Crime and Public Order Act will criminalise threatening behaviour that stirs up hatred against people because of their characteristics The Harry Potter author ridiculed the legislation a string of tweets on X where she sarcastically urged her followers to respect 'lovely Scottish lass' Isla Bryon - a convicted double rapist Writing in The Times newspaper, she said she had raised 'two core concerns' with him, about the 'protection of vocal disagreement without fear of recrimination, and misogyny' - something Scottish ministers plan to bring in separate legislation to deal with.