The criminalization of opinion in Britain.

[Bereta_Eder]

On 25 February a 25 year old Greek student was arrested by the British anti-terrorist police in NewCastle.

The British Police didn't inform the Greek Consulate or his family. The matter became known though an article in a local british newspaper.

They charged him under their terrorist law of 2000 for possessing material that could "instigate, facilitate or execute terrorist acts".

He will be brought on "trial" on the 11 of March and the maximum penalty for his "crime" is 10 years in prison.


The terrorist material they talk about is books.
Books about the several militant groups in Europe.

Whether he was using these books to do his PhD as he claims or not is irrelevant.

He can face 10 years in prison because he had in his possetion books.


But the story doesn't end there.


That student believes that the group 17 November of Greece is not a terrorist organization but a resistance movement. He considers their killings as political acts.
According to reports he has never hidden his opinions.
He also congratulated 17N and said he wished he could join it.


The question that arizes is this.


Is in Britain, opinion a crime?

Does someone HAS to believe something or else he is a criminal?

Can Britain still be called a democracy? Since a defining aspect of democracy is the freedom of expression?

[Az]

So, paiktis, when are you coming to Israel?

[Bereta_Eder]

If money allows in a couple months. If not, this summer if there's no major tensions in the region.
But keep it on topic please.

[Arrian]

Didn't you start a thread on this yesterday, Pattycakes?

-Arrian

[Bereta_Eder]

I did but it was closed.
As said, please keep it on topic.

[Jack the Bodiless]

He is a known terrorist sympathizer, by his own admission. How do you know that his "only crime" was to own a few books?

You don't!

[DaShi]

So Paiktis, when are you coming to Britain?

[Jack the Bodiless]

Of course, you're about to experience "the criminalization of opinion in Apolyton" anyhow...

[Bereta_Eder]

It is a democratic right to have freedom of expression.

Do you think you can still be called a democracy if you don't?

His "crime" was to have books comes from what the British authorities let out and Greek sources.

[Arrian]

Why not wait for the trial before flying off the handle? Perhaps the evidence that is to be presented there is more than just this guy's books, hmm?

-Arrian

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Arrian
Why not wait for the trial before flying off the handle? Perhaps the evidence that is to be presented there is more than just this guy's books, hmm?

-Arrian

Don't you think his arrest was illegal in the first place?
Based only on books?

But in reality based on his opinions?

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by paiktis22
It is a democratic right to have freedom of expression.

Do you think you can still be called a democracy if you don't?

His "crime" was to have books comes from what the British authorities let out and Greek sources.

Blah blah blah blah.

Are you connected to this man, how do you know what he was or wasn't doing

[Bereta_Eder]

From British and Greek sources.

The question is: is freedom of expression a crime in Britain?

[MrBaggins]

Te UK doesn't have a constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech (or, indeed, any constitution at all), or unlimited freedom of speech.

It has codified laws which do not usually exclude free expression, but these are overridden in all cases of criminal conduct, such as, for example, terroristic acts.

Of course, if you don't like the laws in place, you can always move to another country.

MrBaggins

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by paiktis22
From British and Greek sources.

The question is: is freedom of expression a crime in Britain?

No and hasn't been for hundreds of years( well apart form porn)