We need more transparency on jury trial deliberations, says Frances Gibb Does the jury system work? No one knows --- because under the present law, no disclosures can be made about what goes on when a jury retires; nor can research be conducted...
The 4 June massacre signalled an end to 1980s press reform in China The Communist Party's crackdown on democracy demonstrators in Beijing 20 years ago brought hopes for political reform in China to an abrupt and violent end. For journalists, it...
The illiberal obsession with silencing Nick Griffin and the British National Party in the run up to elections has won the party undeserved publicity, says Claire Fox “If you are not supporting Labour then … please go out and vote for one of the...
Poet Liu Hongbin fled China after taking part in the Tiananmen Square protests. Here, he describes his experience of returning to China as a persona non grata in 1997 In the dead of winter 1997, I landed back in Beijing. As I was passing through...
The failure to publish the long awaited report on policing tactics last summer is leading to accusations of a cover-up. Chris Ames reports The Home Office and Kent Police have buried a report on the policing of last summer’s climate camp at...
The unprecedented mass protests in Moldova last month would not have happened without Twitter. Natalia Morar should know: she was one of the activists who made it happen “Moldova is my motherland,” “Chisinau the most beautiful city on earth,” “Love...
In an extract from the series Manifestos for the 21st Century, New Humanist editor Caspar Melville explores the impact of identity politics on free speech When I was an undergraduate studying American Literature, I spent 1989-1990, the year of the...
The closure of Nadine Dorries's blog simply on suspicion of defamation emphasises the need for reform of libel legislation says Padraig Reidy It's probably not the best time to be seen defending an MP, but here goes. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries...
Comedy is too often constrained by preconceptions of audience reaction and the comic's own self-censoring streak, says Robin Ince “If those in charge of our society --- politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television --- can...
The Australian government's ignorance about the Internet is impeding attempts to ban online content, says John Ozimek Over the last six months, I have been keeping a close watch on events “down under”. The Australian government has proposed --- to...