Friday, 24 January 2020

Know your rights: Free Speech & the Law

Index is publishing a series of guides on the laws related to freedom of expression in England and Wales. They are intended to help the public understand the protections that exist for free speech and where the law currently permits restrictions.

They are essential reading for anyone - artists, activists, journalists - concerned about clashing with the laws on freedom of expression. Case studies and the examination of relevant legislation offer a thorough analysis of your rights.

Four guides are currently published: on public order, counter-terror legislation, obscene publications and child protection issues. Further guides will be added next week.

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Turkish journalist still fearful in Germany

Zübeyde Sari survived the purges after the failed military coup against President Erdogan in 2016, but in late 2018 she was forced to flee to Germany. “I had to leave in just one night,” she says. “They put my face on all the front pages of the magazines, accusing me of being part of a broadcast television network connected to the Kurdish movement. The next day, I would have woken up with the police knocking at my front door.”

Read the full story which is part of a partnership between Index and the University of Missouri's Global Journalist’s Project Exile series, which publishes interviews with exiled journalists from around the world.

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Index in the Media

Index CEO Jodie Ginsberg writing in The Shift on the challenges to the media from vexatious litigation: "Faced with the choice of dropping an important public interest story or heading into a legal battle that could bankrupt the organisation or the individual, and would suck up huge amounts of time, news outlets often make the difficult decision to quietly pull a story or investigation." Read here.

Rachael Jolley, editor-in-chief of Index on Censorship, spoke to Podcast From The Past about the history of the magazine and the struggles of cartoonists and writers to publish their work over the last 50 years.

"Journalists must be empowered to hold power to account in order to build sustainable economies, societies, and governance," said Jessica Ní Mhainín, policy research and advocacy officer at Index, in the EU Observer on the shortcomings of the EU's Eastern Partnership in encouraging greater media freedoms.

And finally, for those of you who missed our winter magazine launch event on the ways macho male leaders around the world stifle dissent, debate and democracy: The full video of the debate is available to watch online, along with a written summary.

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 to Index you help us to protect freedom of expression and to support those who are denied that right.