Two recent cases have prompted me to consider the parlous state of free speech in the Western world.
First off, thereās the now infamous case of Germaine Greer being lobbied by trans activists over her views on trans people when she wasnāt even planning to discuss those views. Greer, 74, has now declined the invitation to speak, saying that she is too old to be heckled.
Next up, Glenn Greenwald, the journalist that made his name with Edward Snowden, offers a blistering critique of Franceās hypocrisy. The world stood with the nation when Charlie Hebdo journalists were murdered. France has some of the biggest restrictions on free expression in the Western world.
Worst of all, the march took place in a country that is one of the most hostile to free speech rights in the West, as France quickly demonstrated in the days after the march by rounding up and prosecuting Muslims and other anti-Israel activists for the political views they expressed. A great, best-selling book by French philosopher Emmanuel Todd released this year argues that these āfree speechā marches were a āsham,ā driven by many political sentiments ā nativism, nationalism, anti-Muslim bigotry ā that had nothing to do with free speech.
The absurdity of Franceās celebrating itself for free expression was vividly highlighted by this weekās decision from that nationās highest court, one that is a direct assault on basic free speech rights. The French high court upheld the criminal conviction of 12 political activists for the ācrimeā of advocating sanctions and a boycott against Israel as a means of ending the decades-long military occupation of Palestine. What did these French criminals do? This:
The individuals arrived at the supermarket wearing shirts emblazoned with the words: āLong live Palestine, boycott Israel.ā They also handed out fliers that said that ābuying Israeli products means legitimizing crimes in Gaza.ā
Along with other measures, such as Theresa Mayās planned snoopers charter, and recent incidents, such as Southampton University cancelling a debate (again, on Israel), Iām personally quite concerned about the repeated attacks on free expression.
But then, I worry much more than others about this sort of thing.
Any thoughts on the above cases welcomed. Any more examples enthusiastically invited.