Former leader of the English Defence League (EDL), Tommy Robinson, was awarded a freedom of speech award by the Free Press Society of 2004 in Copenhagen on Saturday, as protesters demonstrated outside the venue.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, received the 'Sappho Award,' a prize that according to the Free Press Society of 2004's website is "awarded to a person who has shown uncompromising courage in the struggle for the free word."

While accepting his prize, Robinson said "Silicon Valley, the alliance of globalists, Islamists and the far-left, are taking away our free speech."

"The British establishment, I believe, they looked and saw the power that we had through Facebook, through social media," Robinson said. "This level of censorship terrifies me, the control that Silicon Valley now has in controlling how people think."

Protesters were seen gathered outside the venue where the award was given, holding flags and chanting slogans against racism and hate.

The Free Press Society, or Trykkefrihedsselskabet in Danish, believes "the biggest threat against freedom of speech currently comes from Islam" according to their website. The organisation gives its yearly Sappho award to prominent critics of Islam including author Douglas Murray, conservative philosopher Roger Scruton, Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, whose drawing of the prophet Muhammad drew international controversy in 2005, and Flemming Rose, who was responsible for the cartoon's publication while editor at the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.