Civil Liberties in Difficult Times

The right to protest is a core civil liberty, and restrictions on it should be narrow, evidence-based, and focused on conduct: violence, intimidation, harassment, incitement, or unlawful support for proscribed terrorist organisations.

Where organisers have demonstrable links to proscribed groups, or where specific conduct crosses into incitement or intimidation, that is a matter for law enforcement. Police can impose conditions on routes, timing, and location. Offences can be investigated and prosecuted. But those cases do not justify blanket bans on political protest.

At the same time, a cumulative atmosphere of intimidation cannot be dismissed. If Jewish citizens avoid parts of their own cities, hide visible signs of Jewish identity, or feel abandoned by public institutions, that is a grave failure. Antisemitism is real, historically deep, and the surge in anti-Jewish hate cannot be explained away as opposition to Israel. Criticism of Israeli policy is legitimate. Harassment of Jewish individuals or targeting of Jewish institutions is antisemitism, and the state must act decisively to protect citizens.

Concern about antisemitism also cannot be used to suppress criticism of Israel or public support for Palestinian rights. Institutional bans, harsh employment consequences, and legal threats can become disproportionate and illiberal. Both evasions should be rejected in a liberal democracy.

The same clarity is needed with Islamism. Islamism is an authoritarian political ideology that seeks to impose a religious order through state power, coercion, or violence. It should be named as clearly as far-right extremism, white supremacy, or any other form of political extremism.

This must be clear: Muslims, Islam, Islamism, and jihadism are not interchangeable. Muslims must not be treated as collectively responsible for Islamist movements. Many Muslims, including reformers, dissidents, secular Muslims, and ex-Muslims, are themselves often targets of Islamist coercion. Anti-Muslim discrimination in employment, housing, policing, and public life is also real and unacceptable.

The cases are not identical, but they do not need to be identical for a consistent liberal standard to apply.

Jews face antisemitism. Muslims face anti-Muslim bigotry. Islamist extremism is real. Far-right extremism is real. Peaceful protest is a right. Intimidation and incitement are not.

A consistent liberal position protects speech, defends protest, polices conduct, names threats accurately, and rejects collective blame wherever it appears.

Civil liberties are not self-enforcing. If we are unwilling to defend them in difficult times, we should not assume we will keep them.