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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30 November 2009

Alcohol... Danger ... Vices

URLhttp://au.movies.yahoo.com/news/article/-/6530114/david-hasselhoff-rushed-to-hospital/ (Accessed on 30th November 2009)

David Hasselhoff Rushed to Hospital
Yahoo!7 Movies November 30, 2009, 9:34 am

Former Baywatch star, David Hasselhoff was admitted to hospital on Friday after suffering a seizure, according to a new US report.RadarOnline.com claims the star's daughter, Hayley, called emergency services when her father fell ill.The actor was reportedly taken to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by ambulance for treatment."I asked one of the paramedics how David was doing and he told me his eyes were rolling back into his head, he was drooling and that he'd had a seizure. This isn't the first time this has happened to him," said Hasselhoff's neighbour, Christian.

A spokesperson for the LA City Fire Department confirms: "Paramedics were called to (a house) in Encino for medical aid. Paramedics arrived at approximately 11:51 am and later transported the patient a nearby hospital."Hasselhoff was apparently drinking throughout the thanksgiving holiday that may have ended up triggering the attack and saw one of his personal doctors on Wednesday after returning from a trip to Canada. The website claims has been hospitalized for alcohol poisoning over five times in just the past year alone, the most recent in October when he was admitted to rehab amid reports he accidentally hit a doctor during a booze binge.Hasselhoff's reps have denied any alcohol related issues in the past.

Comments:

This is not the first time famous actors and actress (and ordinary people) felt very ill due to alcohol related issue. That is why in Islam, alcohol drinking is prohibited, not even a drop is allowed.

Because, if a drop is allowed, people would want another drop, then another drop, and eventually felt addicted to drink the whole barrel.

Also when people are not sober, they tend to do nasty things, such as, quarrel, street fighting, to other social-ills and crime related issues.

Think about it.
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