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| FREE SPEECH & PROTEST The right to protest has a
long history in Britain Protest and free speech are crucial parts of political life, with a strong British history, yet a variety of measures undermine them.
Laws intended to combat anti-social behaviour, terrorism and serious crime are routinely used against legitimate protesters.
Free Speech has been a victim on the 'War on Terror', with offences of 'encouragement' and 'glorification' of terrorism threatening to make careless talk a crime.
Non-violent political organisations can be classified along with Al-Quaeda, with membership or association with them a serious criminal offence.
Meanwhile, the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 has extended the offence of incitement to racial hatred to cover religion, threatening to seriously undermine legitimate debate.
For more on the impact on protest rights of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act and Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, visit the pages listed on the left. News and EventsBlasphemy laws will be on trial tomorrow in a High Court prosecution brought by Christian Voice against the producer and broadcaster of 'Jerry Springer: The Opera'. In a third-party intervention, human rights group Liberty will challenge outdated blasphemy offences and argue that free speech rights must protect sacred, profane and secular language alike. 19.11.2007
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Visit the 'right to peaceful protest' pages of our advice site, Your Rights. | |
Our response to a Home Office consultation on freedom to protest peacefully in Westminster, Jan 08, PDF Statement on free speech in the context of the Danish cartoons, Feb 06, PDF. Response to the Government consultation, Nov 05 PDF. Briefing on the Bill as it passed through parliament, June 05, PDF.
Supplement to Liberty's evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the human rights issues arising from policing and protest, July 2008. Liberty's evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the human rights issues arising from policing and protest, June 2008.
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