Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Istanbul on 1 June in the capital’s Taksim Square during demonstrations over plans to turn Gezi Park into a shopping mall. (Photo: Akin Aydinli / Demotix)

Protests are commonplace in many democracies all over the world, but in the last year there have been several limitations and blockades made to this right. From the protests on several university campuses, to those in Istanbul’s Gezi Park, to the more recent protests in the Ukraine, the world has seen that the right to assembly can still be seen as a direct threat to the authorities and one they wish to suppress. However, are there ever instances when protests should be suppressed, whether because they put the population at risk or are representing an extremist ideology at odds with the rest of society?

Index on Censorship and Sussex University Politics Society are hosting a panel debate to look at the importance of the right to assembly to freedom of expression at Sussex and around the world.

The panel will be a diverse range of free speech experts, and media, academic and student representatives.

Join us on Tuesday 8th April at 6pm in Fulton 104 on Sussex University campus to debate and discuss these important issues.