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 January 2011

Mahkamah Batal Saman Um Hafilda !


(14 April 2011)

Mahkamah BATAL Saman Ummi Hafilda


KUALA LUMPUR 13 April – Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini membatalkan saman RM100 juta yang dikemukakan oleh Ummi Hafilda Ali terhadap ahli perniagaan, Baginda Minda dan penerbit portal berita, Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd. atas dakwaan menyiarkan artikel berunsur fitnah dan menjatuhkan maruahnya.

Hakim Datin Zabariah Mohd. Yusof memutuskan demikian setelah peguam kesemua pihak yang terlibat tidak hadir ketika pengurusan kes buat pertama kali didengar di kamar beliau.

Pada 17 Mac lalu, Ummi Hafilda, 43, selaku plaintif memfailkan saman terhadap Nor Azman Abdullah @ Baginda Minda dan penerbit portal berita di Internet itu, Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd. masing-masing sebagai defendan pertama dan kedua. Dalam pernyataan tuntutan, Ummi Hafilda mendakwa, Baginda Minda telah memberikan kenyataan sindiran (innuendo) yang merujuk kepada dirinya pada sidang akhbar yang diadakan di lobi Bangunan Parlimen pada 15 Mac lalu.

Menurutnya, ayat-ayat fitnah yang diucapkan oleh Baginda Minda membawa maksud bahawa plaintif seorang ahli perniagaan yang terdesak untuk mendapatkan peluang perniagaan, seorang wanita yang tidak bermoral, tidak jujur, pembohong dan tidak boleh dipercayai.


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