Discredit to the Turkish Government Over Social and Political Inequalities
Image description: Large number of people walking on the streets in Turkey. The unlimited inequality, injustice, and serious violations of socio-economic rights in Turkey has triggered public dissatisfaction with the...
Digital Disinformation in India: An Attack on Mental Autonomy
Image description: The words ‘fake news’ containing the word ‘propaganda’ inside the letters. Concern is mounting over the increase in disinformation or “fake news” spreading across Indian social media platforms...
Sanchez and ZB v France: How Many More Restrictions to Freedom of Expression Should Strasbourg Accept?
Image Description: On a brick wall, the phrase ‘Free Speech’ is being written by a person, using spray paint. Below this phrase, the words ‘*Conditions apply’ has been written. On...
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: an Unprecedented Blow to Democracy and Fundamental Rights
Image Description: A picture of an empty chamber in the UK House of Commons. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is expected to pass through its third and final...
Ward: A Missed Opportunity for the Supreme Court of Canada to Denounce Bullying of Children with Disabilities and to Promote Substantive Equality
On October 29, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) rendered a 5-4 judgement that strengthens protection for freedom of expression while eroding the right of persons with disabilities to...
A Narrowed Ambit of Freedom of Speech and Debate in Hong Kong’s Legislature
Despite recent changes in Hong Kong’s political environment following the introduction of a “patriots only” rule for candidates running for Legislative Council (the city’s legislature) (‘LegCo’) elections, legal developments concerning...
Free Speech Crisis in University
In this episode, Gauri Pillai, Managing Editor of the Oxford Human Rights Hub, speaks to Professor Adrienne Stone, Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at Melbourne Law School...
The Offence of Sedition in India and its Future
In what became a widely reported incident, on 15 July 2021, while hearing a petition challenging Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code on sedition, the Chief Justice of India...
South Africa’s Constitutional Court Sets Precedent for the Prohibition of Hate Speech
It is widely recognised that at the heart of the South African Constitution lies an expansive promise of equality, freedom, human dignity, and the fulfilment of fundamental human rights. However,...
Association Accept and Others v. Romania: The European Court of Human Rights Takes a Fresh Look at Homophobic Speech and Biased Criminal-Law Enforcement
That hate-speech victims (who have sued unsuccessfully in a CoE member state) should obtain redress in Strasbourg is hardly surprising nowadays and ought not to constitute ‘news’. Yet their cases...
South African Constitutional Court sentences former President Zuma to 15 months’ in prison for contempt of court
On 29 June 2021, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ran out of patience with former President Zuma’s very public recalcitrance, finding the former President guilty of contempt of court...
Arbitrary Blocking of Websites Violates Freedom of Expression, Rules ECtHR
In June 2020, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a series of four judgements against the arbitrary blocking of websites by the Roskomnadzor, which is the Russian federal body...