Category: freedom of expression

Court of Appeal upholds exclusion from UK of anti Muslim speakers at English Defence League rally – Free Movement

Posted February 10th, 2015 in appeals, freedom of expression, judicial review, news, speeches, visas by sally

‘The case of R (On the Application Of Geller & Anor) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWCA Civ 45 was an application to the Court of Appeal against a refusal by the Upper Tribunal to grant permission for judicial review by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, the founders ‘Stop Islamization of America’, referred to by the Secretary of State as an anti-Muslim hate group. This contributor was previously unaware of Geller and Spencer’s work, but after 5 minutes on YouTube was in rare agreement with the Secretary of State. They had planned to visit the UK in the aftermath of the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, to address a rally planned by the English Defence League in Greenwich on Saturday 29 June 2013, armed forces day.’

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Free Movement, 10th February 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Punish hate crime on social media with internet asbos, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted February 9th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, freedom of expression, hate crime, internet, Judaism, news, racism by sally

‘Social media users who persistently spread racial hatred online should be given “internet asbos” blocking them from sites such as Facebook and Twitter, according to an MPs’ report that examines the rising levels of antisemitism in Britain.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Politicians have a human right to sound racist, says equalities watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 4th, 2015 in Equality and Human Rights Commission, freedom of expression, homosexuality, human rights, inciting hatred on grounds of sexual orientation, inciting racial hatred, inciting religious hatred, marriage, news, racism, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘Equality and Human Rights Commission upholds right to publish Mohammed cartoons but not to teach that gay people will ‘burn in Hell’.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Theresa May’s plans to stop students being drawn to terrorism are in conflict with law, says QC – The Independent

Posted February 2nd, 2015 in bills, confidentiality, freedom of expression, news, terrorism, universities by sally

‘Plans by Home Secretary Theresa May to place a legal duty on universities to prevent students from being drawn into terrorism are in conflict with existing law, a leading QC will warn tomorrow.’

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The Independent, 1st February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge orders father to take his children to church – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 20th, 2015 in appeals, children, custody, divorce, freedom of expression, judges, news by sally

‘Child care proceedings challenged after judge tells father he has a legal requirement to take his sons to Catholic mass.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Attempt to ban performing artist’s abuse memoir ‘threatens free speech’ – The Guardian

Posted January 20th, 2015 in appeals, freedom of expression, injunctions, news, publishing, Supreme Court by sally

‘An attempt to prevent a performing artist from publishing his memoir on the grounds that its contents would be distressing for his son to read has opened up “a new, substantial and unpredictable threat to freedom of expression”, lawyers representing free speech campaigners have told the UK supreme court.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Libyan Rendition, Human Rights Week 2014 and the Naked Rambler – Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 1st, 2014 in evidence, freedom of expression, human rights, news, police, public order, rendition, terrorism by tracey

‘Libyan Rendition, Human Rights Week 2014 and the Naked Rambler – Human Rights Roundup.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Speech by Master of the Rolls: Criticising Judges: Fair game or off-limits? – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted December 1st, 2014 in freedom of expression, judiciary, media, speeches by tracey

‘The Master of the Rolls gave the Third Annual BAILII Lecture on 27 November 2014.’

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Judiciary of England and Wales, 28th November 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

IBC Legal Conferences’ 8th Annual Social Media Law Conference – Attorney General’s Office

Posted December 1st, 2014 in contempt of court, freedom of expression, internet, pornography, speeches by tracey

‘IBC Legal Conferences’ 8th Annual Social Media Law Conference – Attorney General’s sppech.’

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Attorney General’s Office, 27th November 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Terror bill requires universities to ban extremist speakers – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2014 in bills, freedom of expression, insurance, intelligence services, internet, news, terrorism, terrorism prevention & investigation measures, universities by sally

‘New powers for the home secretary to order universities to ban extremist speakers from their campuses are to be included in a new counter-terrorism bill.’

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The Guardian, 24th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jailed Twitter troll speaks of regret – BBC News

Posted November 17th, 2014 in freedom of expression, harassment, internet, malicious communications, news, prosecutions, select committees, sentencing by sally

‘Internet trolling has become a growing problem in recent years, but is enough being done to teach children about online abuse?’

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BBC News, 17th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government may weigh rights against national security without courts’ interference – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 14th, 2014 in appeals, freedom of expression, human rights, international relations, Iran, news, Supreme Court, terrorism by tracey

‘R (on the application of Lord Carlile of Berriew QC and others) (Appellants) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) [2014] UKSC 60. The exclusion of a dissident Iranian from the UK, on grounds that her presence would have a damaging impact on our interests in relation to Iran, has been upheld by the Supreme Court.’

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Uk Human Rights Blog, 12th November 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Regina (Lord Carlile of Berriew and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – WLR Daily

Posted November 13th, 2014 in appeals, freedom of expression, human rights, law reports, parliament, Supreme Court, visas by tracey

Regina (Lord Carlile of Berriew and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: [2014] UKSC 60; [2014] WLR (D) 479

‘The Home Secretary’s decision to maintain an order excluding the entry into the United Kingdom of a dissident Iranian politician, invited by members of the Houses of Parliament to meet them in London to discuss human rights and democratic issues in Iran, was not a disproportionate interference with their right to freedom of expression under article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: the Home Secretary was entitled to accept the recommendation of the Foreign Secretary that to permit such entry would risk jeopardising the United Kingdom’s diplomatic and economic interests and might provoke a violent reaction in Iran resulting in damage to British property and endangering the safety of British and local personnel.’

WLR Daily, 12th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Street Tweet not so neat – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted November 11th, 2014 in disqualification, fines, freedom of expression, internet, news, sport by tracey

‘Football managers and coaches are not infrequently subjected to disciplinary sanctions by football regulatory bodies for speaking out about referees and such like. It is comparatively rarer for players to be sanctioned for expressing themselves, although this has now happened twice to QPR and sometime England midfielder and avid tweeter Rio Ferdinand.’

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Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 10th November 2014

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Britain First Rochester election mail leaflet dubbed illegal – BBC News

Posted November 3rd, 2014 in elections, freedom of expression, Islam, news, political parties, postal service by sally

‘Royal Mail has said it will not deliver a leaflet for the right wing party Britain First in the Rochester and Strood by-election because it believes it to be illegal.’

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BBC News, 31st October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Naked Rambler loses at European court over right to public nudity – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2014 in contempt of court, freedom of expression, human rights, news, public order, sentencing by sally

‘A man known as the Naked Rambler has lost his case at the European court of human rights where, he claimed he had a right to bare all in public.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Can a kiss on a bus count as public disorder? – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2014 in freedom of expression, homosexuality, human rights, news, public order by sally

‘The song was wrong – a kiss isn’t just a kiss. Or at least not on the No 89 to Blackheath, according to two passengers who say they were kicked off their London bus when the driver objected to their public display of affection.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Internet trolls face four times longer in jail, Chris Grayling pledges – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2014 in bills, freedom of expression, harassment, internet, malicious communications, news, prosecutions, sentencing by sally

‘Internet trolls who spread “venom” on social media could be jailed for up to two years, the justice secretary Chris Grayling has said as he announced plans to quadruple the maximum prison sentence.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Authors’ concerns after court rules writer can’t publish sex abuse memoir – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 17th, 2014 in appeals, child abuse, damages, freedom of expression, injunctions, misuse of private information, negligence, news, public interest, sexual offences by tracey

‘Leading authors have expressed their “grave concern” at a court ruling which has prevented a writer from publishing a book dealing with the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. The author’s ex-wife has obtained a temporary injunction stopping the memoir’s release until the issue has been decided at trial. She argued that reading it would cause their 11 year-old son, who suffers from a number of disabilities, severe psychological harm.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Binning the smoke alarm: Why repealing the Human Rights Act would be the biggest mistake of a generation – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted October 15th, 2014 in families, forced labour, freedom of expression, human rights, imprisonment, murder, news, privacy, torture, war, war crimes by sally

‘Following plans announced at the Conservative Party’s recent conference to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, Harriet Johnson reminds us why we signed it in the first place, and underlines why it remains such an important safeguard over half a century later.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk