Stand Up for Free Speech, Freedom of Expression, and Freedom of Religion
! URGENT ACTION ALERT !
The rights of Christians, and in particular pro-life groups, are increasingly under attack. Since 2023, praying outside abortion centres has been a crime in Northern Ireland. Now, pro-abortion members of Belfast City Council - Alliance Party, Green Party, People Before Profit, SDLP, Sinn Féin - have voted to approve draft bye-laws that directly threaten freedom of speech, expression and peaceful Christian witness.
BACKGROUND
In 2023, the Council proposed new bye-laws that would have required permits for information stalls and for the use of any amplification equipment. Anyone breaking the bye-laws would have faced fines of up to £500. Although presented as “noise control,” the true aim of the proposals was to seriously restrict free speech and target street preachers and pro-life groups.
This was a direct attack on Precious Life, as we are the only pro-life group actively campaigning on the streets of Belfast. For 28 years, our Street Outreach has given a voice to the unborn and offered life-saving information to countless people.
When these proposed bye-laws were first announced, we immediately launched the PROTECT FREE SPEECH Campaign and mobilised people across Northern Ireland.
The public response was significant:
- 3,571 online consultation responses
- 14,878 written submissions to City Hall
- 7,000 signatures on a Liberty NI petition
Following this response, the Council abandoned its original plan to require permits for information stalls or street preaching.
However, the pro-abortion SDLP and the Alliance Party expressed their disappointment that the revised bye-laws did not ban the display of pro-life images. The Council agreed to produce a further report on how to address pro-life displays.
REVISED BYE-LAWS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY 2026
At a meeting on 20th February 2026, Belfast City Council approved measures to fine street preachers if their amplifiers exceed 70 decibels on city centre streets. The revised bye-laws also include a ban on the display of imagery by pro-life groups.
People will face fines if their amplification equipment exceeds 70 decibels — approximately the volume of a noisy vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, or loud conversation. This limit will significantly restrict public speaking, preaching, peaceful protest, or prayer in public spaces.
The ban will make it an offence to display pro-life imagery on posters and banners, and even on clothing such as t-shirts.or hoodies.
FINES UP TO £1,500
Any person who displays image will face a fine of up to £500.
If the person does not comply with a request to stop displaying the image, they will be fined an additional £500.
If the person does not comply with a request to provide their name and address, they will face a further £500 fine.
This means a person could potentially face total fines of up to £1,500.
CENSORSHIP OF LEAFLETS
The bye-laws also include restrictions on pro-life leaflets. Images in leaflets must be smaller than A4 size and must be sealed in envelopes with warnings about what’s inside.
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS
Alliance councillor Jenna Maghie stated at the February meeting that she would have preferred the bye-laws to go further but said she would accept “incremental gains” on the issue.
She proposed that the bye-laws be reviewed one year after introduction to determine whether they are effective or require strengthening. She also suggested specifically banning any images created using AI. The Council agreed to bring back a report on these suggestions. The draft bye-laws were passed by 14 votes in favour and 4 against.
FINAL APPROVAL DELAYED
The bye-laws were due to be sent to Stormont’s Department for Communities to be signed off by the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA, before coming back to the Council for final approval.
However, at a Council meeting yesterday (2nd March), the DUP, TUV, and UUP requested a “call-in” on equality grounds. A call-in is a legal mechanism that councillors can request if they believe a council decision was not properly considered, or that it would disproportionately affect a section of the community. The Unionist councilors said the bye-laws are ‘specifically aimed at silencing Christians’. If the call-in passes legal checks, the issue will be sent back to the council to be debated again.
TAKE ACTION
This gives us a short time to lobby the Minister for Communities, Mr. Gordon Lyons MLA and urge him to reject these draconian bye-ways:
BYE-LAWS FOR THE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF BELFAST CITY CENTRE
AND FOR THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF NUISANCES IN BELFAST CITY CENTRE
BYE-LAWS FOR THE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF BELFAST CITY CENTRE AND
THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF NUISANCE - THE REGULATION OF GRAPHIC IMAGERY
CONTACT THE MINISTER TODAY - Politely and respectfully tell him you want the rights to freedom of speech and expression, and the religious liberties of everyone in the community, to be upheld.
In your own words use the following points:
- These bye-laws are far-reaching and disproportionate. They primarily affect pro-life stalls and street preaching, but other groups or organisations with a public presence will also be impacted.
- Bye-laws are generally considered a measure of last resort, to be used only after other approaches have been attempted. They should not be introduced where alternative legislative measures already exist, and they must be proportionate and reasonable.
- The Council has not attempted to address any alleged issues through other means. Existing legislation, such as the Public Order Act, may already provide mechanisms to address concerns.
- The bye-laws conflict with the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, which are protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act.
- The bye-laws also conflict the Good Friday Agreement, which affirms commitment to civil rights, religious liberties, and freedom of expression for everyone in Northern Ireland.
The Minister can be contacted by email at: gordon.lyons@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Or by post:
Mr Gordon Lyons MLA
Minister for Communities
Department for Communities
Causeway Exchange
1–7 Bedford Street
Belfast
BT2 7EG
As US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
These bye-laws have serious implication for the rights to free speech and expression for everyone, regardless of their views on abortion.
Never in Ireland or the UK (or indeed the world) have Information Leaflets been required to be placed in sealed envelopes with a warning sign attached.
These byelaws will set a dangerous precedent by encouraging other public authorities to ban free speech and expression from other towns and cities across Ireland and the UK.
Bans on free speech and expression in Belfast today, will be bans in Dublin, Derry, Cork and London tomorrow
Stand firm for faith. Stand firm for freedom. Stand firm for life.
AND FOR THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF NUISANCES IN BELFAST CITY CENTRE
BYE-LAWS FOR THE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF BELFAST CITY CENTRE AND
THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF NUISANCE - THE REGULATION OF GRAPHIC IMAGERY
CONTACT THE MINISTER TODAY - Politely and respectfully tell him you want the rights to freedom of speech and expression, and the religious liberties of everyone in the community, to be upheld.
In your own words use the following points:
- These bye-laws are far-reaching and disproportionate. They primarily affect pro-life stalls and street preaching, but other groups or organisations with a public presence will also be impacted.
- Bye-laws are generally considered a measure of last resort, to be used only after other approaches have been attempted. They should not be introduced where alternative legislative measures already exist, and they must be proportionate and reasonable.
- The Council has not attempted to address any alleged issues through other means. Existing legislation, such as the Public Order Act, may already provide mechanisms to address concerns.
- The bye-laws conflict with the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, which are protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act.
- The bye-laws also conflict the Good Friday Agreement, which affirms commitment to civil rights, religious liberties, and freedom of expression for everyone in Northern Ireland.
The Minister can be contacted by email at: gordon.lyons@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Or by post:
Mr Gordon Lyons MLA
Minister for Communities
Department for Communities
Causeway Exchange
1–7 Bedford Street
Belfast
BT2 7EG
As US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
These bye-laws have serious implication for the rights to free speech and expression for everyone, regardless of their views on abortion.
Never in Ireland or the UK (or indeed the world) have Information Leaflets been required to be placed in sealed envelopes with a warning sign attached.
These byelaws will set a dangerous precedent by encouraging other public authorities to ban free speech and expression from other towns and cities across Ireland and the UK.
Bans on free speech and expression in Belfast today, will be bans in Dublin, Derry, Cork and London tomorrow
Stand firm for faith. Stand firm for freedom. Stand firm for life.