There is another arrest in the United Kingdom for criminal speech, a crime that is on the rise in the West to censor and punish those who are deemed hateful or insulting in their views. The latest arrestee is reported to be Matthew Doyle, 46, a partner at a London PR agency. He was arrested after tweeting about how he asked a Muslim woman to “explain” the terror attacks in Brussels. It was a stupid and insulting act, in my view. Moreover, Doyle reportedly used some slur for Muslims in later postings. However, none of that justifies criminalizing speech and the arrest shows the increasing appetite in England (and the West) for rolling back on free speech. Indeed, we recently discussed the Obama Administration’s threats of prosecution for those who speak in ways deemed misleading or hateful.
We have previously discussed the alarming rollback on free speech rights in the West, particularly in France (here and here and here and here and here and here) and England ( here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). Much of this trend is tied to the expansion of hate speech and non-discrimination laws. We have seen comedians targeted with such court orders under this expanding and worrisome trend. (here and here). This includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s disgraceful pandering to authoritarian Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the exercise of free speech by German citizens deemed insulting to Erdoğan.
London’s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday reportedly arrested Doyle after social media started to comment on his tweet that read: “I confronted a Muslim women [sic] yesterday in Croydon. I asked her to explain Brussels. She said “Nothing to do with me” a mealy mouthed reply.”
Doyle was obviously upset over the bombings at the Brussels airport and at a metro station killed at least 31 people and wounded 300 others. However, the young lady was right to be insulted by the suggestion that just because she is Muslim she would have to explain the actions of these murderers and terrorists.
The tweet was later deleted but the controversy raged on social media. Doyle doubled down and strangely thanked his followers “for proving I can still do PR.” The comments were inappropriate and ignorant but they were also in my view an exercise in free speech, something that is increasing precarious in England.
England has seen the rise of calls for speech prosecutions. We have previously discussed the crackdown on free speech rights in the West, particularly in England ( here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here).
What do you think?
Isaac, with all due respect I think Professor Turley has demonstrated that he “has a set” by opening up this forum to people from different backgrounds and diverse viewpoints without censoring comments (unlike the highly-vaunted NY Times for example).
I don’t agree with his take on everything – especially on online degrees which is what drew me here in the first place – but I do admire the fact that he has created a forum in which important issues can addressed. I learn something each day from the majority of commenters whether I agree with them or not.
RE: “You attack the left constantly for their so called out of control political correctness when the alternative is Trump, a present day Hitler. The US seems to be reflecting a moment in history when fascism paraded as freedom and social awareness was pilloried as evil communism.”
I think that is very simplistic – the black or white perspective. The Left is eating its own by focusing on identity /PC politics rather than real issues. While it’s lovely to see HRC marching in the Gay Rights parade and seeing her surrounded by people of color,etc. where is the DNC on the issues at hand? Why aren’t Democrats calling out her surrogates on the TPP – which spells doom for both people and the environment???
Trump, to be sure, has made incredibly rude (hateful) remarks about women, hispanics and Muslims. But he is not seen by Progressives to be a threat as much as HRC is. We trust that he will be held in check by the Constitution. HRC on the other hand will have the full support of the corporate-controlled Congress – Democrat and Republican.
Will and Mike point out how surreal this whole situation is – that we find ourselves agreeing with Trump – at least in terms of the TPP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szsryQYhSMY
So if Democrats truly want to win the GE they need to address the problem in their own party instead of projecting onto Sanders or Trump.
One thing many people don’t understand about Bernieorbusters is that it’s NOT about Bernie – he is a catalyst not a Messiah figure- it is about us and our future.
I am reminded of a book title from years ago- suicide of the west by burnham- the revised version is on display in pusillanimous western societies who aggressively refuse to believe that islam is bent on the destruction of the west- another title- 1984- also comes to mind, wherein speech itself is so perverted that truth itself becomes suspect- this is not an intense discussion between myriad liberal elites on most efficacious use of resources, or many other thing about which reasonable can reasonably disagree- this is an active attempt by one system to destroy the west – and, saddest of all, the west- for the most part -seems to be adopting the position of a frog in a pan of boiling water
Is it politically incorrect/correct to yell fire in a crowded theatre? Is it politically incorrect/correct to verbally target people because of their religion? Is it politically incorrect/correct to incite responses against people only because of their religious associations with thugs?
Turley, your mindless adherence to the most interpreted element of our society, the law, leaves you floating on your own diatribe. You constantly and in the most cheap and superficial ways avoid the real problem(s). Any idiot off the street can draw a line in the sand. It seems that that is all that is being done. Why not delve a little deeper into the subject. Perhaps a fine is in order. Perhaps this targeting and advertising of persons most indirectly associated with the terrorist event will lead to worse things than this idiot getting fined for mouthing off. Perhaps the government is reducing the amount of hate crimes in Great Britain and because they have the maturity to differentiate between free speech and verbal attacks on people because of religion etc., they will be able to guard free speech while arresting verbal violence. Perhaps one should revisit the state of affairs in their own house, the differences, etc. You attack the left constantly for their so called out of control political correctness when the alternative is Trump, a present day Hitler. The US seems to be reflecting a moment in history when fascism paraded as freedom and social awareness was pilloried as evil communism. Let’s elect Trump and resurrect McCarthy. Trump’s legal eagle mentor was McCarthy’s lawyer and the most disgusting representative of the law ever. Turley, it is time to step out of your suit of a tool and chisel a little deeper. Or, are you one of those who throws up your hands as the innocent are lead off and refers to paper written centuries before or precedents of law.
Strap on a pair, Turley and bring the reader into the meat of the issue and stop hiding out in your profession.
He was rude and wrong to speak to her that way.
I also notice that this law is not applied equally. Otherwise, police should be stationed at every football game (the stands would be empty rather quickly) to arrest trash talking speech, at every mosque that preaches anti-semitism or anti-Westernism, every church that claims every other denomination is going to hell, every racist comment about whites, blacks, Asians, every hateful comment about Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, 7th Day Adventists, the Moonies, Mormon Missionaries, and every political meeting, because you know that slurs are hurled at every opposing political party both domestic and abroad.
The entire island should become a prison system like Alcatraz.
Ether apply this ridiculous law to everyone, to illustrate its absurdity, or repeal it and value free speech, even when you don’t agree.
Geez, if they applied such a standard to comments made about politicians our entire nation would be felons, because this election cycle has been a comedian’s dream.
Sqeeky
RE: “Russell is a little too ADHD for me.” Are you disparaging those who suffer from ADHD? Kidding of course. I agree he is a bit manic, but then again so is John Oliver. Something in the UK water?
It is an erroneous short-cut to label all people in a certain group as having specific negative human characteristics, implying that other groups of people don’t have those same characteristics, and instigating unnecessary hatred and violence toward that group. But it seems that nobody can object to people disparaging truly evil behaviors like Apartheid, racism, violence, arrogance, violation of UN resolutions, brutality, theft, rape, plunder, displacing hundreds of thousands of people, theocracy/religious law, taking other people’s land. It cannot be construed as hate speech to note that a particular entity appears to be engaging in those activities.
@Autumn
No, I have not seen the movie. Russell is a little too ADHD for me. But he is right about the bankster class.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
What Justice Holmes said. It is chilling to see what is happening in the name of political correctness – especially in academia, “microagressions,” accusations of “cultural appropriation”, and so forth. Like a modern day witch hunt to frighten the sheeple into keeping mum.
I am a Progressive, but firmly support the Right/Libertarian(s) to have access to free speech as long as it’s not inciting harm to others. Ironically, it’s the Left I am having issues with for shutting others down. If I don’t wanna listen to Limbaugh, etc. I go to another station. It is the mark of a healthy society to have open discourse.
One of the arguments for leaving the EU was that the UK should be free of the rules and regulations required by EU membership. Certainly other EU member states have laws that criminalize speech such as JT has indicated. However, in this instance the alleged criminal speech was all the subject of the laws of England and Wales. Note that the United Kingdom has three sets of laws – the law of England and Wales, the law of Scotland, and the law of Northern Ireland. All of these are related, but distinct. I do not know what the outcome of the purported activity would be under Scottish of Northern Ireland law.
Throughout the “free” world there is a trend at criminalizing speech that some find offensive. This certainly is true throughout Europe and even in Canada. Of course in the non-free world regulation of all types of speech is why that world is referred to as “non-free.” We can be proud that for the most part, the U.S. First Amendment has been upheld in court to permit “offensive” speech. Although there are some (especially in academic settings) who would enforce “political correctness” speech codes, such speech typically is not a criminal matter. However, there have been assaults on this principal such as proposed by the U.S. Attorney in Idaho as JT referenced.
Attempted limitations on free speech do not appear to be an exclusively left or right issue. There are instances for persons in power of all political persuasions who have tried to limit speech. In this English case, the current government in the UK is Conservative, although I doubt if a Labor government would act differently. It appears that it does not matter whether the group in power is liberal or conservative to attempt to limit unwanted speech, but the fact they are in power.
Hi Squeeky,
Have you seen Russell Brand’s film “The Emporer Has No Clothes”? I’m turning to comedians more and more – they can generally escape free speech restrictions – except that poor bloke in Germany…. Straight from Britain:
Your all acting like this is something new. Have you forgotten not being able to wish people here in the US “Merry Christmas”? Little by little your rights are being eaten away ask by who.
It is the “liberals”, whether here or in Europe, who must use intimidation to protect their “victimology” narrative. It is how they stay in power If Hans Christian Anderson wrote the Emperor’s New Clothes today, the little boy who said ” the Emperor is naked!” would have been accused of hate speech, and of being divisive. Democratic prosecutors would have been subpoenaing the kid’s emails, and Facebook and Twitter would have banned him.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“recently discussed the Obama Administration’s threats of prosecution for those who speak in ways deemed misleading or hateful.”
We know, from Loretta Lynch’s televised response, that the DOJ has/is looking into whether or not they can criminally charge climate change deniers.
Our government is populated by people who don’t think that they are constrained by the Constitution.
There have been many science fiction movies about societies wherein criticism or offensive language is prohibited and punished by long stretches in jail or banishment. The rest of the activities of the government were brutual and cruel but people kept their mouth shut because it wasn’t happening to them. It’s chilling. Why shouldn’t people be allowed to blow off steam. Engaging in violence on the other hand isn’t appropriate.
Such as this story…. I agree with him. We must protect our right to free speech and must not silence hateful speech because we don’t like it. We need to not listen and turn our head and use the mute button, if need be. We limit speech at our peril. The more our rights are eroded, the bigger chance we have to lose them. I fear that my grandchildren may live in a world where they need to think about every word before it is said. That’s like going back to 16th century England when Henry VIII. At that time one had to be careful of their very words for fear of losing their heads. Sometimes I think Obama wishes he could cut some people’s heads off! Funny, not funny….scary.
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JT.
Stop using the word “England” when you actually mean the UK. England is not the UK. Maybe in the near future when Scotland and Nothern Ireland separate to stay in the EU it will make sense to use “England” as Britain’s name but then there remains Wales.
When you adhere to a cult, disguised as a religion, which DEMANDS and COMMANDS that its followers kill infidels, for no other reason that they are nonbelievers, YES, Turley, you ARE answerable for the atrocities which continue to occur on a daily basis by fellow members of that cult. If one belongs, for example, to a criminal syndicate, which DEMANDS and COMMANDS that its members kill all who are not associated with said syndicate, YES, a member of said syndicate, who, by his membership, alone, condones and endorses the criminal, barbaric and savage COMMANDS, IS responsible for the murders that occur, regardless of whether or not that one member has personally committed those murders. Don’t like the murders COMMANDED and REWARDED in your religion’s sick and twisted ideology? Fine. Disassociate yourself and leave the cult known as Islam. Oh yeah, I forgot. My bad. Muslims are not allowed to leave and convert. Their fellow barbarians will KILL them. Yeah. Religion of Peace.
The moves to criminalize free speech stems from the left’s desire to control normal behavior – even to the point of punishing stupidity and bad manners.
We know where this will end if unchecked.
A look at the bottom of that long slippery slope is instructive. Imagine a time when humans mingle in a society where no one speaks for fear of offending another human. We become zombies trapped in our fears of the police state we have created.
England is going to hell in the handbasket. I hope they get out of the EU.