Free speech is not for sale ~ Support the Libel Reform campaign
Index on Censorship and English PEN have raised serious concerns that English libel law and the use of ‘super-injunctions’ are having a profoundly negative impact on freedom of expression, both in the UK and abroad. Writers such as Simon Singh, and respected current affairs programme Newsnight, have found themselves facing defamation suits, whilst human rights campaigners are often forced to edit and retract articles in the face of potential libel action. We need to persuade politicians from all of the political parties to commit to reform of these unjust libel laws.
Britain’s archaic libel laws are a serious threat to freedom of expression. But this isn’t just a UK matter. They are increasingly used by a global constituency who come to the UK as ‘libel tourists’ in the attempt to gag dissenting voices – often the vital ‘whistleblowing’ of responsible journalism.
One way to achieve this reform is for 100,000 people to sign the petition for libel reform before the political parties write their manifestos for the election. The Libel Reform campaign now has 26,000 signatures ~ will you support the campaign and make it 100,000 signatures?
Libel reform is essential. We know to our cost what happens to the most vulnerable people in our society when people are fearful about speaking out and exposing bad, incompetent and dangerous practices. English libel laws have been condemned by the UN Human Rights Committee. These laws gag scientists, bloggers and journalists who want to discuss matters of genuine public interest (and public health). Sense About Science has shown that the threat of libel action leads to self-censorship in scientific and medical writing.
Our laws give rise to libel tourism, whereby the rich and the powerful (Saudi billionaires, Russian oligarchs and overseas corporations) come to London to sue writers because English libel laws are so hostile to responsible journalism. (In fact, it is exactly because English libel laws have this global impact that signatories to the petition from around the world are welcome.)
Vested interests can use their resources to bully and intimidate those who seek to question them. The cost of a libel trial in England is 100 times more expensive than the European average and typically runs to over £1 million.
There are three separate ongoing libel cases involving Simon Singh and two medical researchers who raised concerns about medical treatments. They face costs of £1 million each. In future, why would anyone else raise similar concerns? If these health matters are not reported, then the public is put at risk. Read more about the case here http://libelreform.org/who-is-silenced
Freedom to criticise and question, in strong terms and without malice, is the cornerstone of argument and debate, whether in academic journals, on websites, in newspapers or elsewhere. Libel Reform campaign
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Tags: academc freedom, be inspired, campaigning journalism, empowerment, freedom of expression, Libel Reform, Simon Singh
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