FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION


FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used [United Nations, 1966, 1976]. The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression". Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in European, inter-American and African regional human rights law [United Nations, 1966, 1967]. Freedom of speech, or the freedom of expression, is recognized in international and regional human rights law. The right is enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights [Andrew Puddephatt & Hodder Arnold, 2005; Kumar, Ambika, 2006].

In Islamic ethics freedom of speech was first declared in the Rashidun period by the caliph Umar in the 7th century. In the Abbasid Caliphate period, freedom of speech was also declared by al-Hashimi (a cousin of Caliph al-Ma'mun) in a letter to one of the religious opponents he was attempting to convert through reason.

According to George Makdisi and Hugh Goddard, "the idea of academic freedom" in universities was "modelled on Islamic custom" as practiced in the medieval Madrasah system from the 9th century. Islamic influence was "certainly discernible in the foundation of the first deliberately-planned university" in Europe [Boisard, Marcel A., 1980].

* Selected REFERENCES / Sources:

Amnesty International: Annual Reports: URLhttp://www.amnesty.org/ailib/aireport/index.html Andrew Puddephatt & Hodder Arnold. (2005). Freedom of Expression: The Essentials of Human Rights. United Publishers. Boisard, Marcel A. (July 1980), "On the Probable Influence of Islam on Western Public and International Law", International Journal of Middle East Studies 11 (4): 429–50. Goddard, Hugh. (2000). A History of Christian-Muslim Relations. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Kumar, Ambika. (2006). ‘Using Courts to Enforce the Free Speech Provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’ Published by Chicago Journal of International Law. Summer 2006. URLhttp://www.allbusiness.com/corporate-governance/4082846-1.html United Nations: ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’ Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16th December 1966: Entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49. URLhttp://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm (United Nations) Wikipedia. (2010). ‘Freedom of Speech.’ Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. URLhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_expression

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26 June 2009

Senjata Taser Boleh Mendatangkan Bahaya Kpd Orang Ramai..




Source: http://www.hmetro.com.my/Current_News/myMetro/Friday/Setempat/20090626071414/Article/index_html (26th June 2009)

Taser X26 senjata ‘mesra nyawa’ ?!
KUALA LUMPUR: Taser X26 yang bakal digunakan Polis Diraja Malaysia tidak lama lagi. Selepas sekian lama menggunakan senjata pistol diisi peluru hidup, Pasukan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) beralih kepada dimensi baru apabila bakal memperkenalkan senjata baru dikenali Taser X26 berkuasa renjatan elektrik bagi melumpuhkan penjenayah serta-merta.Senjata baru berkenaan yang dianggap ‘mesra nyawa’ menjadi pilihan PDRM berikutan ia dianggap praktikal untuk menundukkan penjenayah kurang berbahaya tanpa mendatangkan kecederaan serius atau kesan kesakitan jangka panjang. Difahamkan, senjata Taser X26 yang digunakan polis Amerika Syarikat dan kebanyakan pihak berkuasa di Eropah menjadi pilihan PDRM baru-baru ini dan bakal dibekalkan kepada anggota polis di setiap kontinjen bagi rondaan cegah jenayah tidak lama lagi. Berdasarkan maklumat sebanyak 210 unit senjata Taser X26 sudah dibeli PDRM menerusi syarikat ejen pengedaran PDT Ventures beribu pejabat di ibu kota.


Komen:


Memang betul polis di negara maju seperti Amerika Syarikat, Britain, Australia, dan sebagainya, menggunakan senjata Taser. Tetapi perlu diingat bahawa di negara maju tersebut, kereta polis sentiasa dilengkapi dengan kamera (yang dipasang dalam kereta peronda). Kamera ini penting supaya polis tidak menyalahgunakan kuasa mereka dengan menggunakan senjata Taser tersebut sesuka hati.


Bayangkan kalau polis 'sentiasa merasakan' yang orang yang mereka hendak berkas itu 'susah' (atau berbahaya). Dan perlu ingat, setiap orang yang diberkas polis tidak semestinya bersalah (atau dianggap sebagai penjenayah) sehinggalah mereka dibuktikan bersalah oleh mahkamah. Justeru itu, polis tidak boleh mengganggap mereka yang diberkas (polis) itu penjenayah atau orang berbahaya. Orang itu mungkin mereka yang 'tersalah' diberkas oleh polis.


Persoalan saya ialah, kalau polis menyalahgunakan kuasa mereka dan menggunakan senjata Taser setiap kali hendak memberkas orang ramai, siapa yang akan memantau keadaan mereka tersebut? Senjata Taser ini syok digunakan, senang digunakan, sebab itulah penyalahgunaannya juga tinggi (dengan senjata hidup pula, polis tidak boleh sesuka hati tembak orang ramai, sebab itulah penyalahgunaannya juga mudah dikesan).. Saya memang tidak syor PDRM menggunakan senjata Taser! NGOs perlu menyuarakan pendapat mereka!


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