Home Secretary Theresa May is to halt searches of individuals without reasonable suspicion after the European Court of Human Rights rules the power unlawful. Leah Borromeo reports
Anti-terror stop and search powers to be scrapped
read more
CATEGORY: News
Tunisia, where independent journalism is a criminal act
As statements of contempt for free expression, they don’t come much plainer. This week Tunisia told the world that it defines independent journalism as “spreading news likely to harm public order”
Somaliland expects
Ignored by the world, Somaliland’s peaceful elections were aided by press freedom unparalleled in the region. Will international recognition follow? Asks Sarah Howard
Defining bona fide protest
Jo Glanville responds: Narrow definitions of a bona fide protester smack of Victorian ideals of the deserving poor — Index defends everyone’s right to protest
Bangladesh: Wife of arrested political leader appeals to UN
Shaheda Yesmin, the wife of Shamsher M. Chowdhury appeals for help from the United Nations. Chowdhury, a UN commissioner and the country’s former Foreign Secretary has been arrested on arson charges that his family say are politically motivated
The white noise of protest
The right to freedom of expression does not entitle indefinite occupation of public land. Brett Lock of Harry’s Place responds to Index’s support for Parliament Square protesters
Belarus: Demonstrators attack new online legislation
Sir Tom Stoppard grills Belarusian ambassador over the Lukashenko government’s poor record on free speech
Why Lord Puttnam is wrong about the PCC
Labour peer’s call to end the self-regulation system if newspapers do not “improve their behaviour within a year” would endanger press freedom. The PCC’s Stephen Abell asks: Does Puttnam really want a public body to dictate the tone of political coverage?
Parliament Square protesters face eviction
As Boris Johnson wins his fight to evict “democracy village”, Bibi van der Zee asks if the courts intend to end the great British tradition of camping in protest
Nightmare on holy street
My victory over “his Holiness” reignites the debate on the place of religion in secular courts but the ordeal is not over yet. Hardeep Singh reports from the libel coalface