Some of the confirmed speakers at the London Rally: Nick Cohen (Writer), A C Grayling (Philosopher), Kenan Malik (Writer), Rhys Morgan (Student activist), Maryam Namazie (One Law for All and Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain), Pragna Patel (Southall Black Sisters), Yasmin Rehman (Campaigner), Gita Sahgal, (Centre for Secular Space), Terry Sanderson/Keith Porteous Wood (National Secular Society), and Anne Marie Waters (One Law for All). There will be a message from Richard Dawkins and the Jesus and Mo cartoonist.

The call for action follows an increased number of attacks on free expression in the UK, including a 17 year old Rhys Morgan being forced to remove a Jesus and Mo cartoon or face expulsion from his Sixth Form College and demands by the UCL Union that the Atheist society remove a Jesus and Mo cartoon from its Facebook page. It also follows threats of violence, police being called, and the cancellation of a meeting at Queen Mary College where One Law for All spokesperson Anne Marie Waters was to deliver a speech on Sharia. More recently, the LSE Student Union has asked the atheist society to remove its affiliation to the union again due to a Jesus and Mo cartoon.

[To read Maryam Namazie's recent speech on how accusations of offence and Islamophobia are secular fatwas, click here.]

The Day of Action has already been endorsed by nearly 100 groups and individuals including Jessica Ahlquist, Richard Dawkins, Equal Rights Now, Taslima Nasrin, National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, National Secular Society, Salman Rushdie, Southall Black Sisters, and Peter Tatchell. To see the list and add your own, click here.

In addition to the London rally, there will be actions and acts of solidarity in other cities, including Australia, France, Gambia, Germany, Poland and South Africa. To see the list or to add your own action or event, click here.

Clearly, the time has come to take a firm and uncompromising stand for free expression and against all forms of bogus accusations, threats and censorship.

The right to criticise religion is a fundamental right that is crucial to many, including Muslims.

11 February is our chance to take that stand.

You need to be there.

Enough is enough.

NOTES:

1. Join 11 February Free Expression Day of Action Facebook page here and Tweet #11FebFEDay.

2. The rally is sponsored by The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason UK.

3. See recent media coverage of the rally and/or attacks on free expression:

A Day to Stand up for Free Expression, South African Times Live, 24 January 2012 [external link]

How freedom goes, The Spectator, 22 January 2012 [external link]

Strong religious belief is no excuse for intimidation, The Independent, 22 January 2012 [external link]

11 February: A Day to Defend Free Expression, New Zealand’s Scoop, 20 January 2012 [external link]

Islamist stops university talk with threats of violence, National Secular Society Newsline, 17 January 2012 [external link]

3. For more information, and details of the Day of Action, contact:
Maryam Namazie
Anne Marie Waters
One Law for All
BM Box 2387
London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731
onelawforall@gmail.com

You can also add your event to the Day’s Facebook Page.

Updated 31 January 2012

Australia

Melbourne

Saturday 11 February at 6.30

Defend Free Expression and the Right to Criticise Religion with us at Ghurkas, 167 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy and donate 10% of the cost of your meal to support One Law for All.

We will honour the Melbourne suffragist Henrietta Dugdale (1827-1918) “Oh the asinine and insulting replies to my protests against the legal injustice to women …”

Organised by: Geraldine Robertson, Women’s Web – Women’s Stories, Women’s Actions

Brazil

The Secular Humanist League of Brazil will issue a statement in support of 11 February.

Organised by: Eli Vieira Araujo Júnior

France

Paris

Meeting on blasphemy. Details to follow.

Organised by: Annie Sugier

Gambia

Details to follow.

Organised by: Ebou Sohna

Germany

Koln

Rally. Details to follow.

Organised by: Mina Ahadi

Poland

Warsaw

The European Feminist Initiative, the Polish Rationalist Association, the Polish Atheist Association and the Left Feminist Network are organizing a rally in Warsaw at the Polish Parliament to support the One Law for All rally in London

Organised by: Nina Sankari

There may be support pickets in Wrocław and Gdańsk.

Portugal

Details to follow.

Organised by: Ana Coelho

South Africa

Johannesburg

Details to follow

Organised by: Fiona Flynn

Updated 28 January 2012

A C Grayling, Philosopher, UK
Abbas Kamil, Unity Against Unemployment, Iraq
Adam Highway
Al Lee, Digital Artist, UK
Al Stefanelli, Author, Georgia State Director, American Atheists, USA
Alex Halpern, London, UK
Alexander Johannesen, Technologist, Writer
Allan Hayes, Humanist, UK
Allen Linville, Physics Teacher, Canada
Alom Shaha, Writer, UK
Andrew Copson, British Humanist Association, UK
Andrew Cornelius, Yeovil, UK
Andrew Lowry, I.T. Manager
Andrzej Taramina, Entrepreneur & Photographer, Canada
Andy Brown, London, UK
Andy Rowland
Anele Daca, Accountant, South Africa
Anne-marie Lizin, Honorary Speaker of the Belgian Senate, Belgium
Annie Sugier, President of Ligue du Droit International des Femmes, France
Ashley Bone, Software Developer, USA
Asli Umur
Atheism UK
Atheist Alliance International, USA
Austin Dacey, Writer, USA
Barry Duke, Editor The Freethinker, Editor The Pink Humanist
Barry Pearson, Retired, UK
Benjamin S Nelson, Philosophy, University of Waterloo
Bernard Hurley, Philosopher, UK
Bill Hounslow
Brian Smith, USA
Brian Wibecan, USA
Brigadista, Mark Cowling, Translator, Catalonia
British Humanist Association, UK
Bruce Gorton, Writer, USA
Cambridge University Atheist and Agnostic Society, UK
Camilla Forest, Journalist UK
Carol Bailey, Freelance Indexer, UK
Caroline Cox, Peer, House of Lords, UK
Caroline Fourest, Prochoix Magazine, France
Central London Humanist Group
Centre for Secular Space, UK
Chad Wakefield, Newsagent, UK
Charles Stearns, Human, USA
Charlie Ehlen, Retired Machinist
Charlie Klendjian, Solicitor, UK
Chris Hallquist, Writer, USA
Chris Iron, IT, UK
Chris Moffatt, Freethinker, USA. Freethinker
Chris Moos, President, London School of Economics Atheist, Secularist, and Humanist Society, UK
Chris Ogilvie
Chris Vince, Canada
Chris Wallis, UK
Colin McLachlan, J&M Acolyte, Scotland
Colin Pearson
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, UK
Cuttlefish, Blogger, USA
Dan Smith, Blogger, USA
Daniel Fincke, Philosopher, USA
Daron Artingstall, UK
Dave Fischer, Senior Business Analyst, USA
Dave Godfrey, Swindon
David Lenny, Hong Kong
David Pollock, President, European Humanist Federation, UK
David White, USA
Deeyah, Music Producer, Norway/USA
Dennis Penaluna, President, Nottingham Secular Society, UK
Derek Lennard, Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, UK
Dorris Journeay, Registered Nurse, USA
DPR Jones, The Magic Sandwich Show, USA
Dr. Challoner’s Atheist & Agnostic Society, UK
Duncan Colhoun, UAE
DV8 Physical Theatre, UK
Dylan Biery, Blogger, USA
Ebou Sohna, Gambia Secular Assembly, Gambia
Ed Brayton, Journalist, USA
Eli Vieira Araujo Júnior, President, Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil
Ernest Long, Scientist, USA
Eva Mostraum, Librarian, Norway
Faisal Gazi, Spittoon, UK
Fariborz Pooya, Iranian Secular Society, UK
Farzana Hassan, Author, Canada
Fraser Januchowski-Hartley, Student, UK
Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, UK
Geoff Wilson, Analyst
Gerard Francis Roddam,IT Programme Manager and Student, UK
Gil Henriques, Student, Portugal
Gill Collingwood, UK
Gill Kerry, Retired Clerical
Gita Sahgal, Centre for Secular Space, UK
Gordon Cameron, Teacher, Australia
Graham Martin-Royle, Bexhill-on-Sea, UK
Greg Laden, Biological Anthropologist, USA
Greta Christina, Writer, Greta Christina’s Blog, USA
Hameeda Hossain, Women’s Rights Activist, Bangladesh
Hamish Allan, UK
Hank Fox, the Blue Collar Atheist, USA
Har Davids
Harry Kroto, Professor of Chemistry, Nobel Prize Winner, USA/UK
Hartmut Krauss, Social Scientist, Germany
Hasan Afzal, Stand for Peace, UK
Hasan Mahmud, Writer, Canada
Hassan Radwan, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, UK
Heinrich Kruger, Computer Scientist, The Netherlands
Hope Knutsson, President, Sidmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, Iceland
Iain Ross, Software Engineer, UK
Ian MacDougall, Grazier, Australia
Ian Walker, UK
Ibn Warraq, Writer, USA
International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution, Germany
International Humanist and Ethical Union, UK
Iran Solidarity, UK
Iranian Secular Society, UK
Irène Delse, France
Issam Shukri, Defense of Secularism and Civil Rights in Iraq, Iraq
Jalil Jalili, UK
James B. Reese, Software Engineer, USA
James Russell, Community Development Worker, UK
Janice Clarke
Jason Thibeault, Blogger, USA
Jeffrey Dreisin
Jeffrey G. Johnson
Jeffry Goodrum, Scientist/Farmer, USA
Jen Phillips, Biologist, USA
Jennifer Allaby, Canada
Jennifer Hardy, President, Queen Mary Atheism Humanism and Secularism Society, UK
Jennifer McCreight, Blogger, USA
Jenny Bartle, President, National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, UK
Jerry Anning, Retired, USA
Jessica Ahlquist, Student Activist, USA
Jesus and Mo Creator, UK
Jeuan David Jones
Jim Baerg, Canada
Joan Smith, Novelist and Independent Columnist, UK
Johann Hari, Journalist, UK
John Berryman, UK Expat living in Spain
John Bothwell, Scientist, UK
John Liesch, Community-based researcher, Canada
John Monfries, Teacher, Australia
John Opie, UK
Josh Kutchinsky, Central London Humanist Group, UK
Joy Westgate, Healthcare, USA
JT Eberhard, Blogger, USA
Katherine Browne, UK
Katy Barnett, Legal Academic, Australia
Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director, National Secular Society, UK
Kenan Malik, Writer, UK
Kevin Saldanha, Regional Director, Humanist, Canada
Kevin Senior, IT Consultant, Italy
King’s College London Atheist, Humanist and Secular Society, UK
Kylie Sturgess, Token Skeptic podcast, Australia
L. A. Nerwinski, Math Tutor, USA
Lancaster University Humanists Association, UK
Laura Heselden, Residential Care Worker, UK
Lee Turnpenny, Biologist and Blogger, UK
Leeds Atheist Society, UK
Leo Igwe, Nigerian Humanists, Nigeria
Lewis Saunders, Born Free, UK
London School of Economics Atheist, Secularist, and Humanist Society, UK
Mano Singham, Scientist, USA
Marc Epard, Software Engineer, USA
Marco Tranchino, Central London Humanist Group, UK
Marcus Leigh, Writer, UK
Marieme Helie Lucas, Founder, Secularism is a Women’s Issue, France
Mark Jones, UK
Mary Madeline Landry
Matthew Oakley, Administrator, UK
Max Dunbar, Writer, UK
Michael Ezra, Blogger, UK
Michael Neville, Economist, USA
Michelle Noël, Writer, Canada
Mina Ahadi, Coordinator, International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution, Germany
Nahla Mahmoud, Sudanese Humanists Group, Sudan: Non Religious out Loud campaign, UK
Nancy Charlier, Psychiatrist, USA
Nathan Salo Tumber, Disabled Services, USA
National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, UK
National Secular Society, UK
Neil Moister, Outdoors Instructor, UK
Nick Cohen, Writer, UK
Nick Mulhall, United Kingdom
Nick Winnick, Editor, Canada
Nicole Eveland, L.A. Wilson, Author
Nina Sankari, Secularist, Poland
Oliver Whitton, Student, Australia
Ophelia Benson, Writer, USA
Oxford Atheists, Secularists and Humanists, UK
Pam King
Patrick Hodgson
Patrick Sheffield, UK
Patty Debonitas, Iran Solidarity, UK
Paul Ginns, UK
Paul Havlak, genome scientist, member of Houston Atheists, Texas, USA
Paul Kershaw, Disabled, UK
Paul Williams, UK
Paula Kirby, The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason, UK
Pedro Aguilar, USA
Pedro Pinheiro de Almeida, Vet Surg, Portugal
Peter Buckley Hill, Comedian and Promoter
Peter Coote, Engineer, Australia
Peter Manchester, Birmingham Humanists, UK
Peter Martin, IT strategist, UK
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner, UK
Peter Trudell, USA
Phillip C. Reed, Network Engineer and Photographer
Polly Toynbee, Writer, UK
Pragna Patel, Southall Black Sisters, UK
Prochoix Magazine, France
PZ Myers, Biologist, USA
Queen Mary Atheism, Humanism and Secularism Society, UK
Ray Bailey
Raymond Higgins
Rebecca Watson, Blogger, Skepchick, USA
Rhys Morgan, Student, UK
Richard Burnham, Technical Writer and Humanist, UK
Richard Carrier, Author, Philosopher and Historian, USA
Richard Dawkins, Scientist, UK
Robert Estrada, Engineer, USA
Robert Nola, Philosopher, New Zealand
Roberto Malini, writer, co-president of EveryOne Group, Italy
Roger Winchester, UK
Rosa Rubicondior
Rosemary Carlton-Willis, Musician, The Netherlands
Rudi Preston, MOD contractor, UK
Rudy Grant
Russell Blackford, Philosopher and Writer, Australia
Salil Tripathi, Writer, UK
Salman Rushdie, Writer, UK
Samir Noory, Iraqi Writer and Political Activist, Canada
Sargul Ahmad, Women’s Liberation of Iraq, Iraq
Scott Ramoth, PA, USA
Seán McKenna, USA
Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil
Sheffield Humanist Society, UK
Sohaila Sharifi, Equal Rights Now, UK
Sonja Eggerickx, President, International Humanist and Ethical Union, Belgium
Southall Black Sisters, UK
Stacy Kennedy, USA
Stand for Peace
Stephanie Zvan, Blogger, USA
Stephen Law, Centre for Free Inquiry, UK
Steve Collinson, Graphic Designer
Steve Grocott, UK
Steve Haith, UK
Steve Vowles, UK
Steven Neugarten, Musician, UK
Steven Paul Leiva, Writer, USA
Students Rights (UK organisation ‘tackling extremism on campus’), UK
Sue Cox, Survivors Voice Europe, UK
Tanya Smith, President, Atheist Alliance International, USA
Tarek Fatah, Writer, Canada
Taslima Nasrin, Writer
Tauriq Moosa, Student, South Africa
Terry Cuddiht
Terry Sanderson, President, National Secular Society, UK
The Chris Worfolk Foundation, UK
Tim Danaher, Architect, UK
Tim Harris, Actor, Tokyo
Tim Martin, Research Assistant, USA
Tom Gemmill
Tony Lloyd, Accountant, UK
Tony Rowden, Musician, UK
Udo Schuklenk, Philosophy professor, Queen’s University, Canada
Unity, Blogger, Ministry of Truth, UK
University College London Atheist, Secularist & Humanist Society, UK
University of Aberdeen Humanist Society, UK
University of Birmingham Atheist, Secular and Humanist Society, UK
University of Sheffield Atheist Society, UK
Viviane Teitelbaum, President of Conseil des Femmes Francophones de Belgique, Belgium
Vjack, Blogger, Atheist Revolution, USA
Wajid Yaseen, Sound Artist, London
Women Against Fundamentalism, UK
Yasmin Rehman, Chair of Secular Spaces, UK