Muslim woman must remove veil to give trial evidence – BBC News
“A Muslim woman can stand trial wearing a full-face veil but must remove it to give evidence, a judge has ruled.”
BBC News, 16th September 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: freedom of expression
Niqabs in court: should full-face veils be banned? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“We’re finally up against it now, aren’t we? After years of dancing round the issue, the law is finally called upon to make a specific ruling on the wearing of the niqab. So let’s make sure we know what we are talking about, because without a doubt there will be proponents and opponents alike who seek to interpret the decision (whatever it may be) to suit their cause.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th September 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Government defamation costs reforms ‘could have chilling effect’ – Daily Telegraph
“Government proposals to allow people of ‘modest means’ to sue for libel without having to pay the other side’s legal costs if they lose could have a ‘chilling effect’ on free speech, a leading media lawyer has warned.”
Daily Telegraph, 13th September 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Judge to decide if defendant can wear niqab – The Guardian
“Decision due on Monday on whether woman must show face in court or will be allowed to wear full-face veil.”
The Guardian, 16th September 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Veils in Court, Grayling and the Left & Legal Aid Anxieties – The Human Rights Roundup
“Welcome back to the UK Human Rights Roundup, your regular breakfast cereal variety box of human rights news and views. The full list of links can be found here. You can find previous roundups here. Post by Sarina Kidd, edited and links compiled by Adam Wagner.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 16th September 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
EDL loses Tower Hamlets march route High Court case – BBC News
“Leaders of the far-right group the English Defence League have lost a
High Court fight for the right to demonstrate in an area of east London.”
BBC News, 7th September 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
NSA leaks: David Cameron’s response is intimidation, says world press body – The Guardian
“David Cameron has been told that the government’s attempt to destroy sensitive leaked documents about mass surveillance was ‘an act of intimidation’ that risks a chilling effect on press freedom. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has written to the prime minister over the government’s ‘deeply regrettable’ response to files leaked by the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.”
The Guardian, 26th August 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
WordPress pulls interview with anti-gay group Straight Pride UK – The Guardian
“Campaign group for ‘heterosexual equal rights’ uses US copyright law to issue a takedown notice.”
The Guardian, 13th August 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Twitter users and the law – timeline – The Guardian
“Libel, racism, threats, harassment and the naming of people in defiance of court orders.”
The Guardian, 29th July 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Beware of the web – New Law Journal
“Employers must get their social media policies in order, say Chris Bryden & Michael Salter.”
New Law Journal, 19th July 2013
Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk
Former Huddersfield rugby star’s Twitter sacking illegal – BBC News
“A rugby league star sacked by his club after a photo of a team-mate’s bottom was posted on his Twitter account was unlawfully dismissed, a judge ruled.”
BBC News, 18th July 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Gay marriage: freedom of speech and conscience – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“At the beginning of 2013 11 countries allowed gay marriage to be performed. By the middle of the year that number had increased to 15 with more to come. Some states in the US and Mexico also allow gay marriages to take place and some jurisdictions recognise same-sex marriages conducted elsewhere but do not perform them. While civil partnerships were introduced throughout the UK in 2004, England and Wales and Scotland look likely to be the next jurisdictions to allow same-sex marriage. The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2012-13 to 2013-14 regarding England and Wales is already in the House of Lords and the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill has just been introduced. Northern Ireland, by contrast, looks set to stick solely with civil partnerships (and will recognise the other jurisdictions same-sex marriages as such).”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th July 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Theresa May considers ‘second-tier’ banning orders – The Guardian
“Ministers are ‘actively considering’ a second-tier banning order that would outlaw groups that are not outright terrorist organisations but promote extremism and hatred on the streets, the home secretary, Theresa May, has confirmed.”
The Guardian, 16th July 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Global Torch Ltd v Apex Global Management Ltd and others; Apex Global Management Ltd v Fi Call Ltd and others – WLR Daily
“The court would only depart from open justice if strictly necessary. An application to depart from the principle of open justice would fall to be decided by reference to established principles, whether the proceedings were at an interim or final stage. A significant erosion of the open justice principle could not be justified where adequate protection existed in the form of vindication of the innocent through the judicial process to trial. The public airing of allegations which might embarrass a litigant was not a good reason to close the doors of the court.”
WLR Daily, 10th July 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Anti-Semitic teacher loses tribunal claim that his views are a legitimate ‘philosophical belief’ – The Independent
“A primary school teacher sacked after allegations of anti-Semitic abuse has lost his attempt to argue that his views were a ‘philosophical belief’ covered under the Equality Act.”
The Independent, 5th July 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Senior lawyer takes out injunction to cover up affair – The Independent
“A senior lawyer has taken out a gagging order typically reserved for philandering footballers to cover up details of his affair with a younger woman.”
The Independent, 4th July 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
US bloggers banned from entering UK – BBC News
“Two prominent US bloggers have been banned from entering the UK, the Home Office has said.”
BBC News, 26th June 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Free speech rights should influence CPS decisions on whether to prosecute over social media communications, says guidance – OUT-LAW.com
“Prosecutors should be mindful of observing individuals’ rights to free speech when deciding whether to initiate legal action against them over grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or false comments made on social media, according to new guidelines.”
OUT-LAW.com, 21st June 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
DPP publishes final guidelines for prosecutions involving social media communications – Crown Prosecution Service
“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has today published final guidelines for prosecutors on the approach they should take in cases involving communications sent via social media.”
Crown Prosecution Service, 20th June 2013
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
How Free Is Our Speech? – BBC Unreliable Evidence
“Are laws designed to protect individuals and minority groups from offence and harassment, inhibiting free speech?
Clive Anderson and his guests discuss whether cases such as the conviction of a woman for telling David Cameron he had ‘blood on his hands’ and the arrest of a man for calling a police horse ‘gay’ are bringing the law into disrepute.”
BBC Unreliable Evidence, 29th May 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
