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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29 January 2011

Kota Damansara: Konstabel didakwa Cuba Buat Tuduhan Palsu

(29th Jan 2011)

Konstabel didakwa cuba buat tuduhan palsu

PETALING JAYA 28 Jan. - Selepas menghadapi tuduhan mencederakan seorang ahli perniagaan, seorang konstabel hari ini didakwa di Mahkamah Majistret di sini atas dua tuduhan cuba mendatangkan bencana kepada mangsa dengan membuat tuduhan palsu terhadapnya.

Norzali Rosle, 25, bagaimanapun mengaku tidak bersalah selepas kedua-dua tuduhan tersebut dibacakan kepadanya di hadapan Majistret Nor Afidah Idris. Terdahulu, sebelum pertuduhan dibacakan, peguam bela, Suraj Singh memohon waran tangkap yang dikeluarkan ke atas anak guamnya pada Rabu lalu dibatalkan kerana Norzali telah menyerah diri sebaik sahaja membaca mengenai 'kehilangannya' di akhbar.

Tertuduh sepatutnya dituduh di mahkamah pada hari tersebut tetapi pendakwaan tidak dapat diteruskan selepas anggota polis itu tidak hadir dan gagal dikesan oleh pihak berkuasa. Mengikut pertuduhan, dia didakwa hendak menyebabkan bencana ke atas Chia Buang Hing, 35, dengan membuat tuduhan palsu ke atasnya pukul 2.01 pagi, 19 Disember tahun lalu di Balai Polis Kota Damansara di sini.

Tuduhan-tuduhan palsu yang dikatakan hendak dikenakan ke atas ahli perniagaan tersebut adalah dakwaan memiliki heroin seberat 0.01 gram dan senjata berbahaya iaitu sebilah parang. Pertuduhan dikemukakan mengikut Seksyen 211 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara maksimum dua tahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya.

Pendakwaan dikendalikan oleh Timbalan-Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Amirah Mohamed Yusoff dan Izazi Muhamedin.

Nor Afidah kemudian membenarkan tertuduh dibebaskan dengan jaminan RM2,200 beserta dua penjamin sementara menunggu sebutan semula kes pada 14 Februari ini.

Pada 11 Januari lalu, Norzali bersama Mohd. Azwan Hassan, Ahmad Saifullah Osan dan Alizulhafiz Abdul Ghafar; kesemuanya berpangkat konstabel, didakwa dengan sengaja menyebabkan kecederaan ke atas Buang Hing di balai polis yang sama di antara pukul 12.30 tengah malam dan 3 pagi, 19 Disember lalu.

Mohd. Azwan dan Norzali masing-masing turut menghadapi satu lagi pertuduhan yang sama terhadap mangsa tersebut di Jalan PJU 3/15, Persiaran Tropicana, Kota Damansara di sini pada pukul 11.30 malam antara 18 hingga 19 Disember tahun lalu.

Mereka didakwa mengikut Seksyen 323 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara setahun atau maksimum denda RM2,000 atau kedua-duanya. Ketua Balai Polis Kota Damansara, Lans Koperal Mahadi Adam turut mengaku tidak bersalah atas tuduhan mengingkari arahan undang-undang mengikut Seksyen 20(3) Akta Polis 1967 kerana sebagai penjawat awam menyebabkan kecederaan terhadap Buang Hing. Dia didakwa melakukan perbuatan itu di Balai Polis Kota Damansara antara pukul 12.30 tengah malam dan 3 pagi, 19 Disember tahun lalu mengikut Seksyen 166 Kanun Keseksaan. Jika sabit kesalahan, Mahadi boleh dihukum penjara maksimum setahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya.



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