Natalie Bennett tells BBC’s Sunday Politics programme people should be punished for what they do – not for what they think

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Belonging to an organisation such as Islamic State, al-Qaida or the IRA should not be a crime in itself because people should be punished for what they do, not what they think, Natalie Bennett, the Green party leader, said on Sunday.

She said legislation that made it an offence merely to belong to certain organisations was outdated and it was important for the government to defend the principle of freedom of speech.

The politician was speaking in an interview on the BBC’s Sunday Politics where she was asked to defend Green party policy – which says that just belonging to a terrorist organisation, or having sympathy with its aims, should not be a crime.

There are 65 international terrorist organisations and 14 Irish ones proscribed under UK terrorist legislation.

Belonging to those organisations, which include Islamic State, al-Qaida and the IRA, or even just showing support for them by wearing uniform or carrying flags is a criminal offence.

Bennett said she thought this was wrong. “What we want to do is make sure we are not punishing people for what they think or what they believe,” she said.

“Obviously actions of inciting violence, supporting violence, those are absolutely unacceptable, illegal and should be pursued to the full extent of the law.”

She added: “What we are talking about is a principle that you shouldn’t be punished for what you think. And we need to balance – we do not protect freedom by destroying it.”

In the interview, Bennett also confirmed she would represent the Greens in both planned leaders’ debates to which the party has been invited.

At one point Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, had suggested Bennett might take part in just one of them.