“The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill would change the law on freedom of expression in Britain, restrict press freedom, damage academic research and endanger fundamental rights. The bill is fatally flawed and we urge the House of Lords to ensure that the government rethinks the bill”. -- Joy Hyvarinen, Head of Advocacy at Index on Censorship
The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill would restrict freedom of expression and press freedom, threaten the protection of journalistic sources, and undermine academic research in Britain. It would limit the right to access information online and it would sneak in a new, harsh border regime for Northern Ireland.
The bill has been slipping through Parliament with little attention. The House of Lords will consider it next on 29 October.
Index joined Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), Liberty, ARTICLE 19, National Union of Students (NUS), Big Brother Watch, Rights Watch (UK) and Open Rights Group to raise issues with the bill.
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a Cuban artist, and co-founder of award-winning Museum of Dissidence will perform in Trafalgar Square on 26 October 2018.
Along with art curator Yanelys Nuñez Leyva, they were hosted in Metal Southend for two weeks in October as part of a collaboration with Index. During their stay, they were presented their Freedom of Expression Award in the Arts category by Index which they could not formally accept in April due to visa refusal by the United Kingdom.
When: Friday 26 October 2018 1-3pm
Where: Trafalgar Square, London
The editors of the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award-winning newspaper Azadliq have launched a letter-writing campaign to journalist Seymur Hezi, who is in prison.
The letters will be printed out and sent to Penitentiary No. 17 where Hezi is detained.
Five Serbian media associations have written to Index on Censorship to raise their concerns about press freedom in the country.
"We wish to inform you about the key issues, problems and processes related to media and media freedom in Serbia today and to explain our views and attitudes, as well as arguments we based them on."
Last week alone, the gruesome case of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey hit global headlines and we marked one year since the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. As the case for defending media workers grows more urgent, we invite you to join the conversation.
Join Index on Censorship at the Foreign Press Association alongside media representatives, policy makers and experts to debate the conclusions of a major report on Mapping Media Freedom. The report will be launched at the event with a panel discussion and opportunity for questions, followed by drinks.
When: Friday 9th November, 5-7pm
Where: The Foreign Press Association, 8 St. James' Square, London SW1Y 4JU
Tickets: Free. RSVP required via email.
On Thursday, Index on Censorship became aware that the organiser of an event, of which we are a media partner, disinvited Julie Bindel as a speaker after other participants accused her of inciting hatred towards transgender people and complained about her involvement.
We recognise that the event organiser Jeremy Goldstein has apologised for his mistake and offered to reinstate Bindel on the panel and she has refused.
Index believes that all speech – eccentric, contentious, heretical, unwelcome, provocative, bigoted – should be protected unless it directly incites violence.
Index on Censorship will no longer support this event.
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.
