Freedom of Expression
You have reached ACRI’s archive, updated with our activity up until 2018. For more recent posts, please visit our current website here.
Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy and is one of the essential ingredients in the realization of individual freedom, because it allows members of a society to openly evaluate and criticize its government. As such, all individuals in democratic societies should have the right to express themselves freely in speech, writing or otherwise, to demonstrate freely, and to disseminate information and opinions for the public interest. Freedom of expression does not only mean the expression of views that are widely accepted by the public or reflect the government’s policies, but also minority views and views that are considered irritating, extreme, and unacceptable.
ACRI works relentlessly to prevent violations to freedom of expression in Israel. ACRI seeks to defend those who use this freedom for the purposes of protecting and promoting human rights, and to hold accountable government and non-government officials who use their authority to subdue critical voices. Not only does ACRI support protesters through legal work and rights education, but through an annual Human Rights March that promotes public awareness of effective usage of freedom of expression. Through its commitment to ensuring Freedom of Expression to all members of Israeli society, ACRI has brought about numerous landmark rulings safeguarding this fundamental freedom.
All
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We won’t back down
November 28, 2017
Dear friends, This evening, we were shocked to learn from a press release that Education Minister Naftali Bennett is calling for … Read more
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The High Court Rules: Human Rights are not controversial!
September 14, 2017
Dear friends, There are some days when I am especially proud to work for ACRI. Yesterday was one of … Read more
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HCJ Rules: LBGTQ and Arab Equality are not Controversial Subjects
September 13, 2017
The High Court of Justice (HCJ) today accepted the petition submitted by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) … Read more
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Thanks to you: ACRI petitions to defend freedom of speech
August 3, 2017
Dear friends, A few weeks ago, I asked for your support in ACRI’s struggle to defend freedom of expression … Read more
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Harm to journalists and freedom of the press in recent events in Jerusalem
July 27, 2017
In two urgent letters sent to the Police on 23.7.2017 and 26.7.2017, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel urged … Read more
Legal Work
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High Court Orders State to Justify Legality of Anti-Boycott Law
December 11, 2012
High Court issues order nisi demanding the government explain why the Boycott Prohibition Law should remain in effect. Yesterday … Read more
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“Closed Military Zone” Orders Delivered to Activists’ Homes; ACRI Protests
November 13, 2012
In letter sent yesterday to the Advocate General, ACRI says “closed military zone” orders served to Israeli activists in their … Read more
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Jerusalem Municipality Confiscates Demonstrators’ Equipment to “Prevent Waste of Public Money”
July 24, 2012
In response to a letter from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) demanding the return of equipment confiscated … Read more
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Directive 834: Permit Required to Express Opinions and Values in Tel Aviv’s Public Sphere
July 15, 2012
Directive 834 requires permit for all expression in public sphere; District Court Judge likely to dismiss petition against municipality. … Read more
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Petition against Tel Aviv Municipality’s Repressive Protest Tent Policies
July 3, 2012
Appeal to District Court seeks to end the municipality’s unauthorized insistence on a prior permit; petitioners call burdensome bureaucratic requirements … Read more
In the Knesset
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Protest under Threat
June 24, 2012
This past weekend, two summer phenomena returned to the streets of Tel Aviv: the longtime tradition of a summer heat … Read more
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ACRI to MK Rotem: Oppose the Law Prohibiting Use of Nazi Symbols
May 29, 2012
Ahead of tomorrow’s (30 May 2012) scheduled discussion of the Proposed Law to Prohibit the Use of Nazi Symbols and … Read more
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ACRI: Freedom of Expression in Universities Must Be Protected
May 14, 2012
Today (14 May 2012), the Knesset Education Committee held a heated discussion regarding an event organized by students at Tel … Read more
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Banning “Nazi” from Public Discourse Harms Freedom of Expression
January 10, 2012
Yesterday (9 January 2012), the Ministerial Committee on Legislation voted to support a private bill that seeks to prohibit the … Read more
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Government Supports Bills Restricting Foreign Funding to NGOs
November 13, 2011
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation has voted today (13 November 2011) in favor of backing two private bills intended to … Read more
Publications
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Demonstrators, Know Your Rights (July 2011)
August 2, 2011
Following recent efforts by the police and authorities to suppress some of the “tent protests” in ways that harm the … Read more
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The Anti-Boycott Law: Questions and Answers
July 17, 2011
On 11 July 2011, the Knesset plenum passed the Anti-Boycott Law, which enables the filing of civil lawsuits against those … Read more
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Prohibition on Instituting a Boycott Bill – Info Sheet
February 16, 2011
Below you will find an explanation about the Prohibition on Instituting a Boycott Bill, ACRI position on the bill, and … Read more
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ACRI Publications 2006-2010
October 27, 2010
ACRI’s Shadow Report regarding Israel’s Third Periodic Review by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, October 2010 “Unsafe … Read more
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Striking a Balance between Security and Human Rights
July 8, 2010
ACRI submits position paper on draft counter-terror bill In July, ACRI submitted to the Justice Ministry a position paper on … Read more
Media
Policy Advocacy
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Universities Must Not Punish Students for Social Media Comments
July 28, 2014
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has contacted Professor Hagit Messer-Yaron, the Vice-Chair of the Council of Higher Education … Read more
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Israel’s Elected Leaders Have a Responsibility to Defend Free Speech
July 24, 2014
Following a series of public statements by senior government ministers the attacking public demonstrations, the Association for Civil Rights in … Read more
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Free Speech on Campus – ACRI Calls on the Hebrew University to Stop Gagging its Students
May 12, 2014
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has urgently contacted the President of the Hebrew University, Menahem Ben-Sasson, following the … Read more
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ACRI Responds to Censure of High School Teacher for Expressing ‘Leftist’ Views
January 23, 2014
In the wake of the widely publicized complaint and disciplinary actions undertaken against a high school teacher in Kiryat … Read more
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A New Law to Limit Foreign Donations to Non-Profit Organizations
December 19, 2013
On Sunday December 15, the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs approved (8 in favor, 4 against) a bill that … Read more
Knesset Roundup
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Knesset Roundup | Summary of Summer Session 2011
August 22, 2011
Knesset Summary – Summer 2011 With the conclusion of the summer 2011 Knesset session, the Association for Civil … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | July 18
July 18, 2011
July 11 – July 20 2011 Recent Anti-Democratic Legislation July 11 | Preventing Harm to the State … Read more
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Knesset Roundup – Social and Economic Rights | July 13
July 13, 2011
June 26 – July 10 2011 A special roundup of non-anti-democratic Knesset work from the past couple of weeks, … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | July 4
July 4, 2011
June 27 – July 10 2011 Recent Anti-Democratic Legislation June 27 | Preventing Harm to the State … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | June 20
June 20, 2011
June 1 – June 27 2011 Recent Anti-Democratic Legislation Early June | Attorney General Opposes Bill Discriminating … Read more