Government begins decriminalisation of defamation, concerns remain for Northern Ireland
ARTICLE 19, English PEN and Index on Censorship emain concerned that the proposed amendments do not abolish the offence of “blasphemous libel” in Northern Ireland.
Gag on UK’s “Guardian” newspaper lifted
Injunction prevents newspaper from reporting on alleged toxic waste issue. Subsequent ban briefly prevents coverage of MP’s question about the injunction.
ARTICLE 19 in landmark open justice and right to know case
ARTICLE 19 and other media and civil liberties organisations are calling for identification of the appellants in an anti-terrorism case.
Government to decriminalise defamation
The government of the United Kingdom has formally committed to decriminalising defamation by doing away with the common law offences of sedition, seditious libel and defamatory libel.
IFJ condemns new attack on journalists’ sources
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the secrecy of a preliminary hearing at a court in Belfast dealing with an application submitted by the Police Service in Northern Ireland (PSNI) to force Belfast journalist Suzanne Breen to hand over confidential material.
Secret inquests threaten accountability, says Human Rights Watch
UK: Secret Inquests Threaten Accountability House of Lords Should Reject Proposal in Draft Law (HRW/IFEX) – London, April 24, 2009 – Legislation to allow the government to hold secret investigations into suspicious deaths involving state agents would undermine accountability and breach human rights law, Human Rights Watch said in a submission to the House of […]
Criminal libel laws need to be repealed, says ARTICLE 19
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 20 March 2009 ARTICLE 19 press release: United Kingdom: ARTICLE 19 Lobbies UK Government to Repeal Libel Laws ARTICLE 19 has written to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, along with members of the Cabinet and members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, to urge an […]
Photojournalists protest increased restrictions as amendments to Counter Terrorism Act come into force
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 17 February 2009 media release from the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group: EFJ Supports UK Photographers in Counter Terrorism Act Protest The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the regional group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), today condemned amendments to the UK Counter Terrorism […]
Dutch politician and filmmaker Geert Wilders banned from travelling to United Kingdom as a result of his controversial film “Fitna”
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: United Kingdom: ARTICLE 19 Calls Upon UK Government to Lift Travel Ban on Dutch MP ARTICLE 19 considers that the decision of the Secretary of State for the Home Department (the “Secretary of State”) to ban Geert Wilders, a member of the Dutch parliament, […]
Twenty years after fatwa was pronounced against writer Salman Rushdie, freedom of expression remains threatened, says ARTICLE 19
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 7 February 2009 ARTICLE 19 press release: United Kingdom: The Satanic Verses Still Have Something to Say as Freedom of Expression Remains Threatened Twenty years ago this month, on 14 February 1989, the Ayatollah Khomeini pronounced a fatwa on the British writer, Salman Rushdie, after the publication of […]
ARTICLE 19 provides submission to inquiry into press standards, libel and privacy laws
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 19 January 2009 ARTICLE 19 press release: United Kingdom: Submission on Libel Law Reform ARTICLE 19 has provided a Submission to the Inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel being undertaken by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK Parliament. The Committee is looking into possible […]
World Report 2009: United Kingdom
World Report 2009: United Kingdom
SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: United Kingdom
SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: United Kingdom
Journalist wins court fight over protection of sources
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 1 December 2008 IFJ media release: EFJ Welcomes Court Victory over Protection of Sources in the UK The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the International Federation of Journalists, has today welcomed the latest court victory by journalist Sally Murrer over protection of sources in Great […]
Journalist settles multi-million libel suit with retail giant Tesco
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Thai journalist facing a multi-million Baht libel suit filed by Tesco Lotus has reached an agreement with the retail giant to settle the case, media reports said. “The Guardian”‘s online website said Nongnart Harnavilai agreed to the wording of a clarification with Tesco Lotus before a judge. It is expected to be […]
IFJ welcomes court action over killing of BBC journalist
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 27 November 2008 IFJ media release: IFJ Welcomes Court Action Over Killing of BBC Journalist The International Federation of Journalists has welcomed the action of a British coroner investigating the killing of a journalist in Somalia who called on the BBC to ensure journalists are never put under pressure […]