17 Nov 2006

National Rally to Defend Freedom of Religion, Conscience and Thought.  More than one thousand people are expected to join a national rally in London on Monday, 20 November to defend the right to freedom of religion, conscience and thought. 

Sponsored by Liberty and the British Muslim Initiative, the rally will feature speakers from a range of political, social and religious backgrounds including Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve MP, Edie Friedman of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, London Mayor Ken Livingstone, journalist Christina Odone and General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain Dr. Abdul Bari. 
 
Liberty Director Shami Chakrabarti said: 
 
"Freedom of conscience and religion, like freedom of speech, is essential to any democratic society. We must keep our heads and unite around democratic values, applying them to others as we want them applied to ourselves. We must all be able to think, wear and say what we like, subject only to personal ethics and restrictions truly necessary for the protection of others. This may not always make us comfortable but it will keep us free." 
 
WHAT: National Rally to Defend Freedom of Religion, Conscience, and Thought 
 
WHO: Speakers include Mayor Ken Livingstone, Lord Nazir Ahemd, Dominic Grieve MP, Tony Benn, Shami Chakrabarti, Edie Friedman, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Kate Hudson, Dr. Abdul Bari and others 

WHERE: Central Hall, Westminster 

WHEN: 6:00 – 9:30pm, Monday 20 November 2006 
  
Contact: Jen Corlew at Liberty on 0207 378 3656 / 0797 3 831 128 or Ihtisham Hibatullah at the British Muslim Initiative on 0845 108 5101