THREAT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Mark Hirst was recently arrested, questioned and charged by Police Scotland following personal comments he made in the wake of the Alex Salmond trial.

For various legal reasons he cannot detail all of the circumstances related to that video at this time.

But the broader context of his arrest and that of other prominent pro-independence supporters, including Craig Murray, should be of concern for everyone who believes in freedom of expression and civil liberties, whether they back an independent Scotland or not.

A legal defence fund has been launched and a campaign to help support Mark’s defence and raise awareness of the direct and immediate threat to freedom of expression and civil liberties in Scotland that these actions by the authorities presents.

The website that has been established will serve as a focus for that campaign and will add to the growing voices, concerned that Scotland is becoming more authoritarian and where our basic rights of freedom of speech are being undermined by very senior establishment figures.

Despite the wider crisis arising from the Covid19 pandemic there are some who view this situation as an opportunity to finally see off the threat from those in Scotland who are absolutely committed to securing Scotland’s independence.

Please join this campaign and resist the new authoritarianism that seeks to close us down.