Alex Salmond has said Joanna Cherry was treated "shamefully" after a leading Edinburgh venue cancelled her planned Fringe show.
The former first minister told the Record "people have the right to put forward an alternative view" after The Stand comedy club pulled the plug on a talkshow featuring the SNP MP.
Cherry, a leading critic of the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) legislation, claimed she had been discriminated against on the basis of her opinions.
The Stand cancelled her guest appearance at a talkshow in August after venue staff told management they would be uncomfortable working at the event.
Asked if he thought Cherry had been harshly treated, Salmond said; "It's shameful behaviour.
"She's an elected MP. If we've got to the stage that people are allowed to censure MPs, then we've reached a pretty pass.
"The Fringe was founded on the basis of freedom of speech, so people who were denied a voice and an opportunity at the established festival could have the Fringe, where anything was allowed to be said."
Cherry claimed yesterday that some of her SNP colleagues were "afraid" to criticise controversial gender reforms and preferred a "quiet life" instead.
"Many of my SNP colleague agree with me, they are just afraid to speak out," she said.
"I've had a lot of private discussions with MP and MSPs and many party members. But they have seen what has happened to me ever since I spoke out in favour of women's and lesbian rights."
Salmond insisted the issue at stake was freedom of speech and not a row over gender reform.
"I happen to agree with Joanna that self-identification was by and large a major mistake," he continued.
"But the issue is not really about that. It's about whether people have the right to put forward an alternative view on the Edinburgh Fringe or are they allowed to be censured?
"It's a matter of fundamental principle. If the SNP can't answer the call to defend the freedom of speech, then they have reached an appalling state."
In a statement released earlier this week, The Stand said: "Following extensive discussions with our staff it has become clear that a number, including venue management and box office personnel, were unwilling to work this event.
"As we have previously stated, we will ensure that their views are respected.
"We will not compel our staff to work on this event and so have concluded that the event is unable to proceed on a properly staffed, safe and legally compliant basis."
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
