Freedom of expression and use of counter-terrorism powers (No. 2)

That this House is extremely concerned about Ernest Moret, foreign rights manager of French publisher La Fabrique who, whilst en route to the London Book Fair, was arrested by British Police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act on suspicion of having participated in recent protests against pension reforms in France; notes that whilst he has now been released from police custody on bail, his phone and work computer are have been seized so data can be extracted, and he has been summoned to attend a further meeting with the anti-Terror unit in four weeks’ time under threat of legal sanctions; joins organisations such as the National Union of Journalists and PEN International in believing that this incident represents a dangerous precedent for anyone concerned to protect freedom of expression including press and academic freedom and the protection of confidential sources and material; and therefore calls for an urgent review to ensure that Schedule 7 powers are not being abused to suppress democratic and human rights and criminalise political dissent in the UK or overseas.