How has UK extremism definition changed and why is it attracting criticism? – The Guardian

‘The communities secretary, Michael Gove, has laid out a new definition of extremism. Here the Guardian examines what has changed and why, and the reason it is attracting criticism.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

A heckler’s veto on Christian street preaching in the UK – Law & Religion UK

‘In Britain, there have been a number of incidents in which Christians have been prevented from preaching in public spaces by the police. For example, the recent incident of Pastor Dwayne Lopez in Uxbridge garnered much media attention. Pastor Lopez was asked to stop preaching by several Metropolitan Police officers because it had been reported by an individual that they found him to be offensive.’

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Law & Religion UK, 29th February 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Lawyers question effectiveness of new anti-SLAPPs law – Legal Futures

Posted February 26th, 2024 in bills, costs, defamation, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘The government last week backed a private member’s bill aimed at extending the new law on SLAPPs beyond economic crime to all types of litigation.’

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Legal Futures, 26th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ofcom rejects Brewdog complaint over BBC documentary – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2024 in BBC, complaints, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy, public interest by tracey

‘A complaint by Brewdog about a BBC documentary that highlighted allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the beer giant’s chief executive has been rejected by Ofcom.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Julian Assange to find out next week if he can appeal against extradition to US – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2024 in appeals, confidentiality, extradition, freedom of expression, news, spying, whistleblowers by tracey

‘In a matter of days Julian Assange will find out if he has exhausted all potential challenges through the British courts to being extradited to the US, where he could spend the rest of his life in prison. The two-day hearing is scheduled to take place in London on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, as he seeks leave to appeal against his extradition for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents.’

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The Guardian, 16th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office plans new protest offences and anti-Zionism is a protected belief – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Home Office has announced its intention to create new offences relating to actions taken by attendees at protests. The plans include making it an offence to possess flares or pyrotechnics at a protest, to wear a face covering at a protest, and to climb on war memorials. The changes will be added as amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill. The Home Office has emphasised that the new rules are not a blanket ban on face coverings, and only apply where the protester’s intention is to conceal their identity.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th February 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Shahrar Ali wins ‘gender critical’ court battle against Green Party – BBC News

‘The Green Party discriminated against former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali during a row over his gender critical beliefs, a court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Freedom of expression and offensive political Emails: an important assertion of a fundamental right – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 8th, 2024 in electronic mail, freedom of expression, malicious communications, news by tracey

‘In a significant ruling, the Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of the appellant for an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 based on an email written to local councillors in a political dispute. In R v Casserly [2024] EWCA Crim 25, The Court gave guidance on – and placed emphasis on the importance of – directing juries on the right to free speech under Article 10 ECHR. The appeal considered the interaction between s 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and Article 10.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 8th February 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

DPP appeals to supreme court in case of protesters who called MP ‘Tory scum’ – The Guardian

‘The director of public prosecutions is appealing to the supreme court in an ongoing and expensive battle to overturn the acquittal of two protesters found to have acted reasonably in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum”.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Financial Sanction and Free Speech in the High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Graham Phillips, the Claimant, is a British national and video blogger who posts content from the Donbass dressed in Russian military fatigues. He says he is a journalist who provides a “counterbalance” to widespread western misunderstanding of the true situation in Ukraine but the Administrative Court disagrees. On 12 January 2024, it handed down judgment in R (Phillips) v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2024] EWHC 32 (Admin), in which it upheld the Government’s view that the Claimant is a propagandist for Russia who is lawfully subject to a sanctions regime which allows the state to freeze his assets.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th January 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UN expert condemns UK crackdown on environmental protest – The Guardian

‘A severe crackdown on environmental protest in Britain with “draconian” new laws, excessive restrictions on courtroom evidence and the use of civil injunctions is having a chilling impact on fundamental freedoms, the United Nations special rapporteur has said.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Social worker wins discrimination case over gender critical beliefs – The Guardian

‘A social worker who was suspended after sharing gender critical beliefs online has won her claim against her employer for discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Students can make provocative remarks if they do not break law, watchdog says – The Guardian

‘University staff and students can make provocative statements on subjects such as Israel and Gaza as long as they do not break laws on incitement or harassment, under proposals by the government’s campus free speech tsar.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prince Harry loses battle to get Mail on Sunday defence thrown out in libel case – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2023 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, police, royal family by michael

‘Prince Harry has lost an attempt to get part of the Mail on Sunday publishers’ defence thrown out in a libel case.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

James Dyson loses libel claim against Daily Mirror publisher – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2023 in brexit, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by tracey

‘Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror after a columnist at the newspaper stated that he had “championed Vote Leave … before moving his global head office to Singapore”.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Shamelessness” of SLAPPs has grown “but still no disciplinary action” – Legal Futures

‘The number and “shamelessness” of SLAPPs has grown but there has been no disciplinary action taken against the lawyers responsible for how they are run, a major conference was told yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 28th November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal refuses permission to appeal in high-profile defamation claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 24th, 2023 in appeals, data protection, defamation, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘Court of Appeal judges have refused permission to appeal in the latest court hearing of a high-profile defamation action brought by a Conservative Party donor against a former Tory MP.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Adviser warns UK government against tightening laws on glorifying terrorism – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in demonstrations, freedom of expression, news, reports, terrorism by sally

‘No 10 should not implement plans to amend the law on glorifying terrorism after the pro-Palestine marches as it would do “no favours” to police, MI5 or the probation service, a government adviser has said.’

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Reasonable for protesters to call Iain Duncan Smith ‘Tory scum’, court rules – The Guardian

‘Two protesters were “reasonable” in calling Iain Duncan Smith “Tory scum” outside the Conservative party conference, the high court has ruled, in a rejection of an attempt to overturn their acquittal.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil protesters’ jail terms potentially breach international law, UN expert says – The Guardian

‘Long sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil protesters for scaling the M25 bridge over the Thames are a potential breach of international law and risk silencing public concerns about the environment, a UN expert has said.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com