Freedom of Expression

Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy and is one of the essential ingredients in the realization of individual freedom, as it allows members of a society to openly evaluate and criticize its government. As such, all individuals in democratic societies should have the right to express themselves freely in speech, writing or otherwise, to demonstrate freely, and to disseminate information and opinions for the public interest. Freedom of expression does not only mean the expression of views that are widely accepted by the public or reflect the government’s policies, but also minority views and views that are considered irritating, extreme, and unacceptable.

ACRI works relentlessly to prevent violations to freedom of expression in Israel. ACRI seeks to defend those who use this freedom for the purposes of protecting and promoting human rights, and to hold accountable government and non-government officials who use their authority to subdue critical voices. ACRI supports protesters through legal work and rights education. Through its commitment to ensuring freedom of expression to all members of Israeli society, ACRI has brought about numerous landmark rulings safeguarding this fundamental freedom.