The important part here is the moral claim, not the legal details of specifically why he is being punished.
-
-
Everyone pretty much agrees he "broke the law" and could have avoided going to jail; the point of contention is whether the law makes the UK a hellhole police state.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @xctlot @StraightMerkDem
If the law meant that the state could hold secret trials and prevent them being reported, that would be a good argument. But it doesn't.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @anomalyuk @xctlot
(Actually, there is a different law, regarding reporting of cases involving children, that does allow the state to cover up what it does, and that is horrific. But that doesn't affect this case)
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @anomalyuk @xctlot
Nothing is secret, everything can be reported, by journalists or by ordinary citizens, with just this restriction on publication during the trial itself, which is _universally_ and strictly applied, despite the piece you quoted saying that it isn't. This is general knowledge.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @anomalyuk
A pretty good test for police state is, if I fly to the UK in my position, can I be arrested, tried, and jailed before anyone finds out? Seems to be the case.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @xctlot
I'm pretty sure you can be jailed for contempt of court within an hour anywhere with an English-style legal system, including the US (though the details of what constitutes such contempt do differ). All such courts have very strong powers to protect themselves first.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @anomalyuk
The secrecy provisions are not unique to contempt proceedings. AFAICT I can be v& in secret as soon as I step off at Heathrow for words I've got on the internet.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @xctlot
Find some evidence for that and I promise I'll help you publicise it.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @anomalyuk @xctlot
Finally, please don't think I'm trying to claim everything here is rosy. This child abuse did happen on an unimaginable scale, and it was kept quiet because people "didn't want to appear racist" and "didn't want to encourage extremism".
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
But when the police have arrested people and prosecuted them, that's not a cover-up. That's what should be happening! I want to know if there are others still being covered up or not investigated properly, and this is damaging that cause.
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.