Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights
Liberty responds to Prime Minister Brown's plans to review protest ban and open Constitutional dialogue
Press Release
Liberty responds to Prime Minister Brown's plans to review protest ban and open Constitutional dialogue
3 July 2007
In his first speech before the House of Commons, Prime Minister Gordon Brown today announced his intention to review the ban on spontaneous protest around Parliament Square and to introduce a public debate on a British Bill of Rights and Duties.
Liberty Director Shami Chakrabarti said:
“The commitment to free speech is an important start. The Government that muzzled peaceful dissent in Parliament Square was in no position to ask religious minorities to put up with plays and books that irritate or offend. But if the new Government is prepared to put up with uncomfortable speech, surely everyone in Britain must follow suit?”
“Liberty welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to British values, even as the terrorists attempt to shift his course. But we urge him to make this a long and inclusive conversation and to remember that my rights and freedoms come from first from humanity and only second from nationality.”
Contact: Jen Corlew on 0207 378 3656 or 0797 3 831 128
Notes to Editors
Liberty is representing peace activist Milan Rai, who with Maya Evans was arrested under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act in October 2005 for reading out the names of UK soldiers and civilians in Iraq at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Liberty lodged an appeal on his behalf on 19 June 2007 with the European Court of Human Rights.
A copy of Liberty’s “The Human Rights Act – Exploding the Myths” is available at the link on the right.
“The commitment to free speech is an important start. The Government that muzzled peaceful dissent in Parliament Square was in no position to ask religious minorities to put up with plays and books that irritate or offend. But if the new Government is prepared to put up with uncomfortable speech, surely everyone in Britain must follow suit?”
“Liberty welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to British values, even as the terrorists attempt to shift his course. But we urge him to make this a long and inclusive conversation and to remember that my rights and freedoms come from first from humanity and only second from nationality.”
Contact: Jen Corlew on 0207 378 3656 or 0797 3 831 128
Notes to Editors
Liberty is representing peace activist Milan Rai, who with Maya Evans was arrested under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act in October 2005 for reading out the names of UK soldiers and civilians in Iraq at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Liberty lodged an appeal on his behalf on 19 June 2007 with the European Court of Human Rights.
A copy of Liberty’s “The Human Rights Act – Exploding the Myths” is available at the link on the right.
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