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Pro-Palestinian Group Plans Legal Challenge to Queensland Hate Speech Laws
(MENAFN) Pro-Palestinian activists have announced plans to challenge new hate speech legislation in Queensland, Australia, following a series of arrests linked to a protest against the laws, according to reports from Australian media.
Members of the group Justice for Palestine Magan-djin marched to the Queensland state parliament in Brisbane on Sunday, one day after several demonstrators were detained.
Authorities had arrested 20 people on allegations of chanting or displaying phrases that have been prohibited under the new legislation. Two additional arrests were made during Sunday’s demonstration, according to reports.
The group says it intends to pursue a constitutional challenge, arguing that the law infringes on lawful protest rights. It also claims that legal advice suggests most of those arrested may not have acted unlawfully.
“The law provides that it is a reasonable excuse to use the prohibited expression for a purpose that is in the public interest and (their) conduct is reasonable in the circumstances,” said a spokesperson for the group, Subhi Awad.
Queensland recently introduced legislation banning the phrases “From the river to the sea” and “Globalize the intifada,” classifying them as hate speech directed at Jewish communities.
The developments have intensified debate in Australia over the balance between free expression, protest rights, and laws aimed at combating hate speech, with legal challenges now expected to test the scope of the new restrictions.
Members of the group Justice for Palestine Magan-djin marched to the Queensland state parliament in Brisbane on Sunday, one day after several demonstrators were detained.
Authorities had arrested 20 people on allegations of chanting or displaying phrases that have been prohibited under the new legislation. Two additional arrests were made during Sunday’s demonstration, according to reports.
The group says it intends to pursue a constitutional challenge, arguing that the law infringes on lawful protest rights. It also claims that legal advice suggests most of those arrested may not have acted unlawfully.
“The law provides that it is a reasonable excuse to use the prohibited expression for a purpose that is in the public interest and (their) conduct is reasonable in the circumstances,” said a spokesperson for the group, Subhi Awad.
Queensland recently introduced legislation banning the phrases “From the river to the sea” and “Globalize the intifada,” classifying them as hate speech directed at Jewish communities.
The developments have intensified debate in Australia over the balance between free expression, protest rights, and laws aimed at combating hate speech, with legal challenges now expected to test the scope of the new restrictions.
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