Mark’s Story

Mark put a poster up in the window of his flat, showing a picture of the Twin Towers on fire, a caption reading "Islam out of Britain - Protect the British People" and a symbol of the crescent and star in a prohibition sign. 

Mark was charged with the aggravated offence of displaying a writing/sign that was threatening, abusive or insulting, and that showed hostility towards a racial or religious group. Mark was convicted, and so he appealed to the High Court. He argued that he had the right to freedom of expression, which includes speech that may be provocative and contentious. The Court ruled however that freedom of expression can be limited to protect the rights of others, and in this case Mark's poster was a "public expression of attack on all Muslims in the United Kingdom". Mark's appeal failed. 

(Norwood v UK, 2004)