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Can we still speak freely? Join the debate in Belfast this Friday

  • BY Frederick Attenborough
  • April 7, 2025
One person’s blasphemy is another’s religious belief. You can’t ban it

Free speech is under siege in ways that are both absurd and deeply concerning. The boundaries of expression are being tested more than ever, with overzealous police forces investigating perfectly lawful opinions and governments seeking to regulate what can and cannot be said. It has never been more critical for us to stand up for our right to speak openly and without fear of reprisal.

That’s why the FSU is hosting its third Northern Ireland Speakeasy on Friday, 11th April, in Belfast. The event promises to be a thought-provoking evening where we’ll highlight the growing threats to free speech in the UK and beyond.

Click here to secure your spot!

Across the UK, free speech is facing increasing restrictions. FSU Director of Education and Events, Dr Jan Macvarish, spoke about the issues on GB News at the weekend – if you missed it, you can watch the clip by clicking the thumbnail below.

One recent case in Hertfordshire, England, saw a couple arrested in front of their nine-year-old daughter and kept in a cell for eight hours over “disparaging” messages in a parents’ WhatsApp group and emails raising concerns with school leadership.

In another case, West Yorkshire Police threatened a retired lecturer with arrest for protesting to his local town councillor about her opposition to a fundraising event open only to biological women.

Then, there’s the case of Saba Poursaeedi, a housing officer who was fired from one of Britain’s largest housing associations for being a Reform UK candidate and reposting a satirical cartoon fromthe Daily Telegraph. Saba, a father of two, was dismissed after the housing association told him Reform’s policies on immigration, net zero, and housing were “in direct conflict” with its own “values.”

What are the consequences for democracy if people cannot voice their opinions about local, national or international politics? Why would people engage in civic life if to do so risks a visit from the police, arrest or losing their livelihood?

To explore these urgent questions, we’re thrilled to welcome a powerful panel of speakers, including:

  • Harry Miller, co-founder of campaign group Fair Cop, and one of the leading voices in the fight against Orwellian “Non-Crime Hate Incidents”.
  • Tom Slater, editor of Spiked magazine, who has long been at the forefront of the fight for free speech.
  • Jenny Holland, Belfast-based writer and former journalist with The New York Times.

This promises to be an evening of engaging conversation – and given the speakers, quite a few irreverent laughs – followed by drinks and a social. So, come along and join us for the FSU’s third Northern Ireland Speakeasy on Friday, 11th April, in the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

Click here to book your tickets.

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  • Become a Member
  • Make a Donation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • Company Staff
      • Founders & Board
      • Advisory Council
      • Legal Advisory Council
      • Writer’s Advisory Council
      • Scottish Advisory Council
      • Northern Ireland Advisory Council
    • The Freedoms We Defend​
      • Freedom of Speech
      • Freedom of Expression
      • Academic Freedom
      • Freedom of the Press
      • Freedom of Religion
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
  • Latest News
  • FAQs
  • Resources
    • Informative Guides
      • Online Offences Related to Civil Disorder FAQs
      • FAQs About Scotland’s Hate Crime Act
      • FAQs About What to do if You’re Contacted by Police Scotland About a Speech-Related Complaint
      • Freedom of Speech Online FAQs
      • Freedom of Expression on Campus FAQs
      • How to Make a Freedom of Information Request
      • Gender Pronouns in the Workplace
      • How to Remove Non Crime Hate Incident from your Police Record
      • Navigating Social Media and the Workplace
      • What to do if You’ve Been De-Banked
      • Anti-Racism and Unconscious Bias Training
      • The Governments Consultation on Reforming the Human Rights Act
    • Briefing Documents
    • Press Releases
    • Media
    • Letters
    • Teaching Materials
  • Videos
  • Podcast
    • Weekly News Podcast
    • Guest Interviews & Debates
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Labour’s War on Free Speech
    • Higher Education Act
    • Conversion Therapy Ban
    • Say No to Banter Bouncers
    • Time to Scrap Non-Crime Hate Incidents
  • Apply For a Grant
  • Member Login
  • Shop