Information Note on the Court’s case-law 69

November 2004

Norwood v. the United Kingdom (dec.) - 23131/03

Decision 16.11.2004 [Section II]

Article 17

Destruction of rights and freedoms

Conviction for publicly displaying signs of hostility towards a racial or religious group: inadmissible

The applicant, who was a regional organiser for the British National Party (a neo-nazi organisation), displayed a pos ter in the window of his flat with a photograph of the Twin Towers in flame and the words “Islam out of Britain – Protect the British People”. The poster was removed by the police following a complaint from a member of the public. The applicant was subsequ ently charged and convicted with displaying hostility towards a racial or religious group. His appeal to the High Court was dismissed. The applicant complains that his freedom of expression was violated and of discrimination.

Inadmissible under Articles 1 0 and 14: The Court agreed with the assessment made by the domestic courts that the words and images on the poster had amounted to a public expression of attack on all Muslims in the United Kingdom. Such a general and vehement attack on a religious group, linking the group as a whole with a grave act of terrorism, was incompatible with the values proclaimed and guaranteed by the Convention. The display of the poster had constituted an act within the meaning of Article 17, which therefore did not enjoy the p rotection of Articles 10 or 14: incompatible ratione materiae.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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