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  • FREE SPEECH & PROTEST

  • suffragette

    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 Events

    • Liberty challenges blasphemy laws in 'Jerry Springer: The Opera' case

    • Blasphemy 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 In a third-party intervention, human rights group Liberty will challenge outdated blasphemy offences and argue that free speech rights must protect sacred, profane and secular language alike.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