The latest on threats to freedom of expression around the world
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Friday, 02 December 2022
** SLAPPs make headlines while
China protests go national
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Police on Wulumuqi Road in Shanghai after protests against Xi's Zero Covid policy. Photo: Cinea467
We never thought we'd be reporting this week on the biggest protest movement in China since Tiananmen but what welcome news it has been. First though we want to discuss some other welcome news. This week SLAPPs were cast out of the shadows and into the light.
For too long strategic lawsuits against public participation, more commonly referred to as SLAPPs, were a hidden problem to be faced by journalists, editors, publishers and other public watchdogs alone, or if they are lucky, with their lawyers. But this week started with the UK Anti-SLAPP conference ([link removed]) , then a letter organised by the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition ([link removed]) , co-chaired by Index on Censorship, sent to Dominic Raab and then *boom* huge news coverage. From the Daily Mail ([link removed]) , FT ([link removed]) and The Times ([link removed]) through to the Press Gazette
([link removed]) and The Guardian ([link removed]) the letter and model law were all covered widely in the British press.
While the UK's politicians have yet to formalise any legislation to limit SLAPPs, getting the vast majority of Fleet Street, alongside award-winning journalists and lawyers, together on an issue is no mean feat. Progress feels closer. Indeed, in a real sign of change, the day before the letter was sent, the Solicitors Regulation Authority published a warning notice for solicitors ([link removed]) to ensure all proceedings are pursued properly, which means "making sure that representing ... client’s interests does not override wider public interest obligations and duties to the courts." Writer Andy McSmith, biographer of Kenneth Clarke and John Smith, also felt the mood changing and penned this colourful post ([link removed]) bringing together, rather unexpectedly, Rebekah Vardy and Vladimir Putin.
Now back to China. It's been a crazy week. We thought the big news story would be Jimmy Lai's trial, which was meant to happen yesterday in Hong Kong. That has been pushed back, following his UK lawyer being denied a visa. It's another desperate attempt by the Hong Kong government to derail the trial, which is already rigged against him. Lai is a genuine hero, a lesson in what bravery and principle looks like, and we felt very privileged earlier this year when we published his letters ([link removed]) .
The current crop of Chinese protesters are also formidable. The CCP regime is brutal; challenging it is not done lightly. Our editor Jemimah Steinfeld wrote about ([link removed]) what the protests might mean while Marnie Duke wrote about the creative ways protesters are using to express themselves ([link removed]) . Of course ultimately it's too early to tell their impact but seeing a whole nation speak out in favour of free speech has been awesome. That said, we have witnessed the pushback. Arrests have been made, phones searched, key words blocked and, in arguably the most bizarre image of state censorship, an entire street sign removed. We also want to note here one of the catalysts for the protests - the horrific fire in Urumqi that killed 10 people. We remain sickened by this news and the ongoing repression of the Uyghur people. We
have reported frequently on the repression and will continue to do so for as long as it continues.
The protests weren't the only news out of China. Former CCP leader Jiang Zemin died on Wednesday. There has been some public outpouring of grief, which is probably less down to Jiang being a nice guy (though he was noted as very charismatic) and more a damning indictment of Xi Jinping. As Li Yuan, an NYT reporter, pithily remarked: "Jiang is the George W. Bush of China. People are nostalgic because they really don't like Xi". Jiang's chargesheet includes being the creator of China's Great Firewall ([link removed]) and his ruthless persecution of members of Falun Gong. China does have a history of protests erupting after key CCP figures die. There would be some irony in his death being the cause of further calls for freedom. Watch this space.
** Landmark report finds China using arts "to silence critics and drive censorship"
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A new report from Index on Censorship published yesterday has laid bare the shocking extent to which Chinese Communist Party (CCP) activity is driving a new era of artistic censorship across Europe.
The report – Whom to Serve? How the CCP censors art in Europe ([link removed]) – builds on in-depth interviews with more than 40 leading artists, curators, academics and experts from across Europe, and the findings of more than 35 Freedom of Information requests. It paints a worrying picture of the coordinated campaign by the CCP to undermine artistic freedoms.
Watch yesterday's launch event ([link removed]) for the report and hear from our panel of expert speakers:
* Lumli Lumlong – Hong Kong painter duo living in exile in London
* Michaela Šilpochová – curator at the DOX Center for Contemporary Art in Prague
* Jens Galschiøt – International artist and sculptor
* Iverson NG – Experienced Hong Kong curator and policy advocate
* Dr Janet Marstine – Honorary Fellow, Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester UK
* Chair: Nik Williams – Policy and Campaigns Officer, Index on Censorship
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** Vote for your Tyrant of the Year 2022
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[link removed] by popular - or should that be unpopular - demand, it's time to launch our annual Tyrant of the Year poll. This is your moment to decide on the authoritarian leader that you think has done their worst to oppress their opponents, through threats, detention, torture and worse. It's tough competition with some truly despicable despots - read here ([link removed]) about this genuinely awful bunch. Last year Erdogan won by quite a significant margin. Who will pick up the unwanted accolade this year? We'll announce the winner in this newsletter in early January. Don't forget to cast your vote now ([link removed]) .
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** From the archive
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** "Silence got us nowhere. We need to speak up"
Autumn 2020
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An impassioned plea ([link removed]) from a Uyghur activist whose sister disappeared in China's network of concentration camps.
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Index on Censorship defends people's freedom to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution. We publish censored writers and artists, monitor and campaign against censorship, and encourage debate.
We rely on donations from readers and supporters. By donating ([link removed]) to Index you help us to protect freedom of expression and to support those who are denied that right.
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