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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Ministers Bennett and Regev are Trampling on Free Artistic Expression
June 11, 2015
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has demanded that the Ministers Bennett and Regev retract their recent public … Read more
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Highly Doubtful that Police Acted According to Regulations
May 5, 2015
Riot control measures must be utilized by the police in a strictly measured manner, and in accordance with the severity … Read more
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High Court of Justice Refuses to Invalidate Anti-Boycott Law
April 16, 2015
On 11 July 2011, the Knesset passed the Anti-Boycott Law, which enables the filing of civil lawsuits against those who … Read more
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Supreme Court Criticizes Lack of Free Speech on Campus
March 8, 2015
Update (9 March, 2015): The court accepted ACRI’s arguments and expressed severe criticism of the university’s policy of limiting … Read more
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Knesset Candidates Being Disqualified for Cynical and Political Purposes
February 17, 2015
ACRI has called to immediately remove the power to disqualify Knesset candidates and political parties from politicians. On … Read more
Legal Work
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High Court Orders Knesset to Explain Rescindment of MK Zoabi’s Rights
April 27, 2011
The High Court of Justice has issued an Order Nisi yesterday (26 April 2011), instructing the Knesset to explain within … Read more
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ACRI Condemns Court Conviction of Activist Jonathan Pollack
December 27, 2010
Placing a Demonstrator Behind Bars – another Stain on Deteriorating Democracy Pollack will spend three months in jail for participating … Read more
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ACRI Slams Court Decision against Hijab-Wearing Teacher
September 1, 2010
In response to the Jerusalem Labor Court’s support of a school which had fired a teacher for wearing a head … Read more
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Freedom of Expression or Targeted Attack?
June 20, 2010
ACRI responds to “specific” summonses to Knesset Education Committee session A session of the Knesset Education Committee, scheduled for Monday, … Read more
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ACRI to Attorney-General: Clarify Police Guidelines on Demonstrations
January 21, 2010
Following illegal arrests in Shiekh Jarrah, ACRI urges the Attorney-General: “The severity of this conduct warrants setting clear guidelines,” Press … Read more
In the Knesset
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Banning Nakba Commemoration Violates Everyone’s Freedom of Speech
May 25, 2009
The approved draft bill would make it illegal to hold public events or ceremonies marking Israel’s Independence Day as a … Read more