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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14 November 2010

Beginda Murtad: JAIS Minta Bantuan JAKIM


Beginda Murtad: JAIS Minta Bantuan Jakim
KUCHING 13 Nov. - Sarawak akan mendapatkan bantuan daripada Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) untuk menyiasat dan mengesahkan sama ada pemimpin Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Beginda Minda sebelum ini merupakan seorang Islam atau sebaliknya.

Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri (Hal Ehwal Islam), Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman berkata, Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak (JAIS) tidak mempunyai rekod yang mengatakan Beginda atau nama Islamnya, Nor Azman Abdullah telah memeluk Islam. Jelasnya, Beginda juga tidak pernah mengaku kepada jabatan tersebut dia seorang Islam atau tidak pernah keluar daripada Islam walaupun namanya menunjukkan dia seorang Islam.

''Kita akan menyiasat perkara ini dan kerajaan negeri akan meminta bantuan Jakim yang akan bekerjasama dengan jabatan agama Islam lain di negara ini untuk membantu sama ada Beginda pernah mempunyai rekod sebagai seorang Muslim atau tidak. ''Sebaik sahaja kita mendapat laporan itu, kita akan membuat susulan mengenai perkara tersebut," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.


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