Significant ruling endorses free press and open justice
Index on Censorship welcomes reversal of United Kingdom Supreme Court anonymity
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Tweeting against freedom
The social media campaign against Rod Liddle, rumoured to be made editor of the Independent, is not just illiberal, argues Hari Kunzru, it is dangerous, censorious, and inexcusable. The centre-left has damaged the culture of free speech in Britain
A lesson from McLibel
Corporations should be open to uninhibited public scrutiny and criticism argues Julian Petley. To prevent legal intimidation, multinationals should be treated like public authorities and prevented from silencing their critics with libel threats
Straw announces plans to reduce libel costs
English PEN and Index on Censorship today welcome Jack Straw’s proposal to make dramatic cuts to lawyers’ win fees in defamation cases, but warn that fees are only one part of a libel system in need of serious reform.
The right to veil
Suggesting banning women from dressing how they please is deeply offensive says Jess McCabe
European court rules stop and search powers illegal
Judges decide section 44 violates claimant’s human rights but journalists and protesters are unlikely to see change on the ground says Leah Borromeo
Islam4UK ban a blow to free expression
The Home Secretary’s decision to ban an extremist group shows exactly why we must not allow sentiment to overrule free speech says Padraig Reidy
WordPress removes blog after libel allegation
Popular west of England site The Bristol Blogger was temporarily removed by blogging platform Wordpress after it received a complaint from former University of the West of England vice-chancellor Howard newby. In a statement given to local radio...
Azerbaijan: editor charged
Imprisoned newspaper editor Eynulla Fatullayev has been charged with drugs offences after Azerbaijani authorities claim to have found heroin in his cell. After brief court session it has been ruled that he should stand under the new charge. This...
Keep up demand for libel reform
Jack Straw has noticed the clamour for change. Reform of our unfair defamation laws must now become a manifesto pledge, says Padraig Reidy