Defend Free Speech

The campaign against the introduction of new freedom of speech laws.

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Defend Free Speech's forerunner was “Reform Section 5”. This speech by #RowanAtkinson at the 2012 launch event should be heard by every politician, journalist & campaigner before they start calling for laws to silence ‘extremists’. https://t.co/stL7VQfzNM

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Robin Simcox appointed as Interim Lead of Commission for Countering Extremism https://t.co/xzoq0PfcyG

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Read our press release here: Extremism Commission must not confuse robust disagreement with hateful extremism

https://t.co/lyg5bOUPja

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

New report from the Commission for Countering Extremism: https://t.co/cNQiY0BEc4

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Happy New Year from the Defend Free Speech Team!

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Merry Christmas from all of us at Defend Free Speech.

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Our vid of Rowan Atkinson defending free speech has reached 1.7m people ( https://t.co/iXY3t3M6gB ). Renewed interest in his remarks is prompted by his intervention on Scottish Hate Crime Bill. Some of us in Defend Free Speech are campaigning on that too - see @_freetodisagree

[Commission for Countering Extremism @CommissionCE]

@CommissionCE and Sir Mark Rowley will be reviewing current legislation to look at whether extremists are exploiting gaps in the law. Read Lead Commissioner Sara Khan's blog, which sets out the aims of legal review https://t.co/24yMk2dEog

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Extremism body examines new hate crime https://t.co/dbJP9onOmr

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

We hope that any move to tackle non-violent extremism in the future continues to place a great emphasis on free speech.

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

In a debate last week relating to proscriptions under the Terrorism Act 2000, James Brokenshire brought out the usual Government line: “It is vital that the Government’s counter-extremism strategy challenges extremism in all its forms—violent and non-violent”.

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Of course we all agree that terrorism must be stopped and that violence is wrong, but conflating non-violent extremism with terrorism and violence is, at best unhelpful, and at worst dangerous.

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Non-violent groups on UK counter-terror list threaten legal action https://t.co/ULkrj8RHR8 @guardian

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Happy New Year!

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Merry Christmas!

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

In the past, Government counter-extremism measures have threatened free speech. So what do the party manifestos say about extremism? Here's a rundown. #GE2019 https://t.co/4kho0ASmCA

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Remembering those who sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. #ArmisticeDay #LestWeForget

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

A spokesman for DFS responds to news (see: https://t.co/mnnNLKQVyF) that Sara Khan, Commissioner for Countering Extremism, has written to the PM, Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson urging them to commit to tackling 'hateful extremism'. #DefendFreeSpeech

[Commission for Countering Extremism @CommissionCE]

Important response from Defend Free Speech (@speechdefenders ) to our new report Challenging Hateful Extremism. We're grateful to the campaign for their conversation and challenge. Our report makes clear we need to defend our right to be radical, to protest and to offend.

[Defend Free Speech @speechdefenders]

Campaign welcomes Extremism Commission’s commitment to free speech | DFS spokesman Simon Calvert comments on the Commission's new report. https://t.co/Jw2NOvMRWE