Article 10 - Case List Flashcards
Handyside v UK: Facts
D published a ‘Little Red Handbook’ and was convicted under Obscene Publications Act 1959-64 as the book was obscene as it tended to deprave and corrupt children. Claimed to teach children about sex, including recommending the use of porn
Handyside v UK: Decisions
No breach of Article 10 and UK law as it fell within the margin of appreciation of the member state
This in line with the idea od himan rights and their interpretaion being dynamic and not bound by precedent
Guerra v Italy: Facts
Applicants complained that Italian state had failed to provide information about potentially hazardous industry near where they lived
Guerra v Italy: Decision
ECtHR on Article 10 - ‘the freedom cannot be construed as imposing on a state, positive obligations to collect and disseminate information on its own accord’
EctHR held the state is not under a positive obligation to provide information
Restriction has been overcome in UK law
- Sarah’s Law
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Data Protection Act
Steel and Morris v UK: Facts
The applicants were sued by McDonals after handing out leaflets entitled ‘whats wrong with McDonalds’
Steel and Morris: Decision
Their opinions were in the public interest
Allegations consituted ‘political expression’. It was not compatible with Art 10 to allow companies to sue for defamation
Sunday Times v UK: Facts
The use of thalidomide resulted in children being born with deformities and was withdrawn in 1961
Parents sued them and negotiations went on for years, with settlements being approved by courts which was covered by the press extensively
Sunday Times v UK: Decision
ECtHR said thalidomide use a matter of public concern and the injunction against the newspaper ‘did not correspond to a social need sufficiently pressing to outweigh the public nterest in freedom of expression’
Otto v Austria: Facts
A wide margin of appreciation was given to a local authority in Austria who banned an erotic film containing images of Jesus. Film was banned in a very Catholic area where it was considered gratuitous and offensive
Otto v Austria: Decision
ECtHR gave the state a wide margin of appreciation and held that the ban was justified in order to protect religios beliefs of others
Garaudy v France: Facts
Garaudy wrote a book denying the Holocaust and criticising Israel and Jewish community. Convicted of Holocaust denial and incitement of hatred
Garaudy v France: Decision
Appealed to ECtHR claiming violation of Article 10. Held no violation
His opinions were protected under Art 10 (1), but state was able to limit them under Article 10 (2): the protection of the reputation or rights of others
R (on the application of pro Life Alliance) v BBC: Facts
BBC wouldn’t broadcast a political party broadcast by pro Life Alliance saying the content of the broadcast went agaisnt public decency
R (on the application of pro Life Alliance) v BBC: Decision
CoA held violation of Article 10
HoL held no violation
The legitimate aim of the BB to protect public morals outweighed the Article 10 right
R (on the application of Laporte) v CC of Gloucestershire Constabulary: Facts
The passengers on a coach heading towards an anti-war protest to a RAF base were stopped by the police and ordered to return to London under a police escort
Police claimed it was to prevent a breach of the peace
R (on the application of Laporte) v CC of Gloucestershire Constabulary: Decision
appeal allowed as there was no evidence that a breach of the peace was imminent and their actions were disproportionate under Article 10 and 11
Munim Abdul and ors v DPP: Facts
Appellants were found guilty under s.5 Public Order Act 1986 when they protested during a homecoming parade for the soldiers returning from War.
Shouted at the sodliers that they were ‘baby killers’
Appealed claiming Article 10
Munim Abdul and ors v DPP: Decision
Article 10 allows opinions that are considered distasteful by others however, court concluded the convictions should be upheld as the actions of the protestors went beyond what is considered a legitimate protest
Observer v UK: Facts
A former MI5 spy published a book on his time there. Gov tried to stop the book being published but the book was published in the US