Muslim protests in Luton

OK, so this isn’t exactly “fresh news”.  But, I haven’t (yet at least) picked-up any other UCF blogs on the story AND I’m keen to post my thoughts anyway.  I should add that it’s more to do with general freedom of expression rather than the more specific issue of press / broadcast freedom.

Quick reminder: this was the (relatively) recent story where a small group of Muslim protesters (and their supporters) demonstrated publicly and noisily at a tribute parade for the returning 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment.  They’d returned to their home town, Luton, after another tour in Afghanistan.

It seems most broadcast news editors remain keen to air this kind of story.  The body-count for British soldiers in the Afghan campaign is high.  In the South West (and quite possibly nationally) we are often offered news packages from Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire as yet another funeral parade passes along the historic town’s streets, lined with respectful locals.  It seems fair to assume that the public’s appetite for this kind of news item is strong – probably reflecting a groundswell of support for the soldiers (but not necessrily of course the campaign itself).  There IS a strangely compelling quality to these stories.

So, back to Luton.  In absolute terms, the Muslim demonstration was small.  But it had an impact way beyond that – presumably, a fact which will have served the demonstrators well.  I happened to be on a lengthy car journey when the BBC held a radio phone-in on the issue.  Boy, did it ever polarise opinions (the demonstration, not the phone-in itself).  It was very revealing to see such small “middle ground” in people’s feelings about the two main overseas campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Likewise on the merits of the demonstration itself.

The most forceful and emotive responses came from those who took great offence at the demonstration.  On the other hand, there were a good number of contributors who argued strongly for true freedom of speech / expression.  I have to say, it was hard to disagree with their argument.  The content / context of the demonstration may have offended many, but, in truth, these people were simply expressing their views in a public forum.  They may have known that the media would be there, but that wouldn’t guarantee them exposure or any particular heightened impact.  That latter “dividend” is down to the decisions of news editors to run the stories in the way they do – again, another good example of freedom of expression.  So, yes, freedom of expression, in a developed democracy like ours, really can, does and should work both ways.

I guess one of the concerns though has to be public order in these circumstances.  As we know, the police have extensive powers in these situations – especially on the back of the Prevention of Terrorism and Public Order legislation.  It all highlights the very thin-line between allowing genuine freedom of expression and ”allowing” as a result acts which are (potentially or actually) inflammatory.

In Luton, at least through the lens of that particular news bulletin, the police seemed to handle things reasonably.  The demonstration DID incite a good deal of anger in supporters of the parade.  The demonstrators were not stopped from demonstrating, but they were “ushered” from the parade’s front-line.   If the police hadn’t done this, I’ve no doubt we’d have had a much bigger, more violent story on that evening’s news.

Saul