Police may still prosecute free speech protester
Thanks to Pub Philosopher for this story: http://pubphilosopher.blogs.com/pub_philosopher/2006/06/police_may_stil.html Police may still prosecute free speech pro-*test*-('")er Remember Reza Moradi? He was the man arrested at the free speech demonstration in Trafalgar Square, for holding a placard displaying the Danish Mohammed cartoons. Like many people, I assumed that the charges had been quietly dropped. Not so, I'm afraid. It appears that the defenders of our liberty and security are determined to prosecute Reza. The case has not come to court yet because the police say that they are still gathering evidence, although what more they will find two months after the event is anyone's guess. The National Secular Society has fixed Reza up with a good lawyer who has agreed to take the case without payment. Writing on Maryam Namazie's blog, Reza says: We want to make sure this case gets its day in court and that with your support - with the support of all those who seek justice when our civil liberties and freedoms are under attack - we will win and raise the banner of unconditional freedoms higher than ever before. We fight both the political Islamic movement and the laws that support it and provide it with cover to make sure there can be no justification and excuse for such attacks on human values again. I will keep you posted. I will be needing your support in defence of free expression and against political Islam's encroachment on universal values. If and when this case gets to court we will need to make sure that it gets as much publicity as possible and that people are outside the court to give him moral support. If you want to send Reza a message of support, his email is rezamoradi@gmail.com.

Thanks Pub Philosopher, I was wondering what the situation was with regard to Reza Moradi. I've recently been reading a book entitled 'The New Thought Police: Inside the Left's Assault on Free Speech and Free Minds' by Tammy Bruce which has stuck a cord with me with regard to how our campaign has been treated by its opponents. After reading this it would seem to me that the authorities are using the case of Reza Moradi to intimidate all those who dare to question politically correct dogma. See the following link to amazon.co.uk if you want more information on the book (this link went to the relevant page at the time of posting, I hope it continues to work): http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761563733/qid=1149628068/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-3500488-2958023

What exactly is Reza Moradi charged with? Does anybody know? Surely he can’t be facing the heinous charge of free expression! What latter day Soviet Republic are we living in? Once we are in possession of the relevant information is there anything that can be done to highlight the case and the broader campaign for free expression? I know I am speculating, but are dark forces operating in the shadows of the United Kingdom frightening and intimidating anyone who questions the politically correct orthodoxy? Is Peter Risdon’s absence from the MfFE blog anything to do with the British establishment putting pressure on him? If anyone is listening, I apologise for all the questions but I am completely in the dark. I don’t want to speculate, but in the absence of information I have a very fertile imagination and want to avoid coming up with any more conspiracy theories (if indeed I have stumbled upon any)! :(

If I remember correctly, quite a few people brought placards with cartoons on, despite the organisers backsliding over the issue. Most of them, just stood silently or remained dignified. I stood next to one of them from Civil Liberty (see here: www.civilliberty.org.uk) and although the police took lots of pictures and moved closer and closer during the demo, he didn't get nicked. The individual who did get nicked, if I remember, jumped around like a loon shouting and gesticulating, waving his placard in a crazy fashion. I doubt they are doing him for incitement to whatever, but for a breach of public order. I hope he behaves himself in court, otherwise no amount of special pleading will save him.

Civil Liberty is a front organisation for the BNP isn't it? According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Liberty_(UK)url> Civil Liberty claims to be "an independent, non-political organisation autonomous of any political party in Britain". It appears to be a front organization for the British National Party (BNP). Connections to BNP The only member of Civil Liberty named on its website is its founder and director, Kevin Scott. Scott is BNP regional organizer for the North East. <1> As of February 12, 2006, the Civil Liberty website listed the following "individuals who have been victimised because of their dissent", on whose behalf it claims to work: BNP councillor Arthur Redfearn, who was dismissed from his job with West Yorkshire Transport Services Nick Griffin and Mark Collett, the BNP activists prosecuted for incitement to racial hatred (see BNP entry) The same page also notes concern for BNP activist Tina Wingfield and support from Bradford BNP activist Darren Manby. Thus, as of February 12, 2006, every single person listed on Civil Liberty's site as supporting or benefitting from their work is a BNP activist.

No more than Searchlight is a front for the Communist Party! OR The National Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty) was a front for the Labour Party! OR Unite against Fascism is a front for the Socialist Workers' Party! Phew! I could go on, but won't!

That is your opinion, of course.