The difference between genocide and crimes against humanity
We regularly highlight comments that have made an impression on us. Antoon de Baets left an insightful response to Josie Appleton's discussion of memory laws in France.
Free Speech Bites
Nigel Warburton spoke with Timothy Garton Ash for Index on Censorship's Free Speech Bites about the Free Speech Debate Project and global free speech standards.
When does hate speech become dangerous speech? Consider Kenya and Rwanda
The forthcoming trial of Kenyan broadcaster Joshua Arap Sang poses vital questions about the connections between words and violence, argues Katherine Bruce-Lockhart.
Brigitte Bardot’s repeated convictions for inciting racial hatred
Should a world famous actress be allowed to denounce an ‘overpopulation’ by foreigners? By Michèle Finck.
Taming the gods: religion and politics
At the 2013 Jaipur Festival, Ian Buruma, Reza Aslan, Ahdaf Souief and Timothy Garton Ash, in conversation with Shoma Chaudhury, talk about the relationship between religion and politics and how to deal with religious threats to free speech.
Seen from India: is freedom of expression under threat in the digital age?
At the invitation of Index of Censorship and the Editors Guild of India, Timothy Garton Ash joins Kirsty Hughes at a panel discussion in Delhi with Shri Ajit Balakrishnan, Shri Sunil Abraham and Ramajit Singh Chima.
The Future of Free Speech
Human Rights activist Aryeh Neier speaks about the future of free speech.
The Future of Free Speech
Aryeh Neier, human rights lawyer and president emeritus of the Open Society Foundations speaks about the future of free speech.
Why Rwanda and Libya need free speech – and media regulation.
Jerry Timmins describes a new report on media in two post-conflict societies, and argues that countries like Britain should do more to support them.
Prevent harm, allow offence?
Robert Simpson suggests a way to distinguish between harm and offence.
Nothing Holy About Hatred? Not quite…
The online campaign Nothing Holy About Hatred takes a faith-based approach to combat homophobia. But, Brian Pellot argues, hatred is enshrined in many religious texts.
Defending Islam and free speech
FSD's Katie Engelhart sat in on this Frontline Club debate to discuss controversy surrounding the YouTube video Innocence of Muslims.
Has Innocence of Muslims ended the innocence of YouTube?
Join us to debate the role internet platforms like YouTube should play in setting free speech agendas in your country, your language and across the world. Online editor Brian Pellot kicks off the discussion.
Combatting hate speech in Turkish media
The Hrant Dink Foundation has run the Media Watch on Hate Speech project since 2009 to counter racist and discriminatory discourse in Turkish press. Project coordinators Melisa Akan and Nuran Agan explain the initiative.
Katalin Barsony on empowering Roma with technology
Romedia Foundation aims to disseminate an insider's view of Romani issues, empower Romani activists and challenge stereotypes through new media.
When an iPhone can be dangerous
The speed and ubiquity of mobile devices have changed the context of "hate speech" online, writes Peter Molnar.
Why the EU’s “harmonisation machine” should stay away from history
Claus Leggewie and Horst Meier explain why memory laws are the wrong way for Europeans to remember and debate their difficult pasts.
Even malicious tweets need protection
A 17-year-old was arrested under the 1988 Malicious Communications Act for sending offensive tweets to Olympic diver Tom Daley. Brian Pellot explores the law and the case.
Elif Shafak on our common humanity
Acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak discusses the limits to free speech, the cosmopolitanism of her novels and the art of coexistence.
Shoot the Boer: hate music?
In 2011, a South African court banned the anti-apartheid song "Shoot the Boer" after ruling it hate speech, writes Nimi Hoffmann.
Westboro Baptist Church: the right to free speech?
In 2011, the US supreme court ruled in favour of the anti-gay church's right to protest at military funerals, writes Casey Selwyn.
Why should Amazon be our taste and decency police?
The online retailer has been criticised for profiting from ebooks featuring terror and violence. No one should tell us what to read, says Jo Glanville.
Free speech in an unfair world
Free Speech Debate's 10 draft principles benefit those in positions of privilege and power, writes Sebastian Huempfer.
Why hate speech should not be banned
Restrictions on hate speech are not a means of tackling bigotry but of rebranding often obnoxious ideas or arguments are immoral, argues writer Kenan Malik.
Media ethics & the Anders Behring Breivik trial
Killer Anders Behring Breivik's testimony should be broadcast live to deter extremism, argues Anne Ardem, executive editor at Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.
Free speech in Turkey & the world – part one
In the first past of this debate, research fellow Kerem Öktem argues that an individual's understanding of free speech is shaped by their personal history and geography.
Shami Chakrabarti on civility
The director of civil liberties group Liberty calls for a review of all speech crime legislation in the UK.
The harms of hate speech legislation
Hate speech legislation chills freedom of expression more than it protects vulnerable minorities. Free speech lawyer Ivan Hare takes issue with Jeremy Waldron.
Susan Benesch on dangerous speech
In this interview with Timothy Garton Ash, Susan Benesch, senior fellow at the World Policy Institute, makes a distinction between hate speech and dangerous speech.
Levant: “I don’t believe hate speech is a crime”
"If you don't ever feel hate, you have a broken personality," says Canadian lawyer and publisher Ezra Levant.
The harm of hate speech
Jeremy Waldron, professor of social and political theory at Oxford University, argues the case for legislation against hate speech
Unpacking hate speech
A trio of human rights experts elaborate on the definition of dangerous speech and consider how hate speech is protected both in Europe and under the first amendment in the US.
Islam between free speech and hate speech
The execution of apostates should be annulled but insulting religion should be recognised as a crime, writes Iranian cleric Mohsen Kadivar.
How Turkish taboos perpetuate immaturity
Professor Ayşe Kadıoğlu of Sabancı University speaks of her experience growing up in Turkey where taboos, many imposed by law, have trapped citizens "in a state of immaturity".
Aryeh Neier on free speech
The president of the Open Society Foundations talks about free speech as a universal aspiration, group libel and the Skokie controversy.
