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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28 March 2011

Alcoholism and Youth Delinquents


ALCOHOLISM AND YOUTH DELINQUENTS: ISLAM AND ALCOHOLISM

Comment:

That is why in ISLAM, Islam prohibits the consumption of alcoholic drinks, even handling the alcoholic bottles are highly discourage (let alone drinking it).Source from the Quran: "They ask you about alcoholic drinks and gambling. Say, "There is great harm in both, though there is some benefit also for the people. But the harm of the sin thereof is far greater than their benefit. " (Quran, 2:219 and 5:90-91)

Today, the scientific authorities have proven that alcoholic drinks can threaten the health, mind, physical body, and even close families relationships. On a daily basis, many road accidents, divorce cases, youth delinquents (youth offenders), etc. are the direct results of alcoholism. That does not even take into account the high costs of purchasing the alcoholic drinks in the first place.

Note: ITS not just only in NZ that faces this problem (alcoholism), in Australia, UK, and USA, the numbers are on record high over the past years. The question is, when are the government seriously considering banning them, or limiting the age group to says, 21 years and above.


Note: Islam totally probits the consumption of alcohol (100 percent), however, both Christianity and Judaism allows alcohol consumption, BUT in moderation. That's the problem, when can one really says enough is enough ?! (Also can everyone really control their thrist and desire for alcoholic drinks once they gets into it, especially when alcoholic drinks are very addictive, so much so that, top politicians, singers, actors/actress, and even top motivators and doctors, some go into Rehabilitation Centres due to alcoholism problem).

Judaism and alcohol : http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4041118,00.html


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Note: Need more proofs and media coverages, see below:


http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=135814

(Dated: 08-09-2009) Islam & alcoholism In these days, countries that allow alcohol are suffering from it and the number of alcoholics is increasing rapidly. In the U.S.A., for example, the number of alcoholics has increased from four million in the 1960s to ten million in the 1970s. In Britain, the number of alcoholics has increased from half a million to one million. In some European countries, the percentage of alcoholics is 8% of the population! Alcoholic drinks are the only poison that is licensed in those countries. However, Islam took a clear attitude towards alcoholic drinks more than 1400 years ago. Islam prohibits such drinks. Any drink that causes drunkenness is prohibited in Islam regardless of the matter it is made from and regardless of the quantity. According to Islam, if too much of a drink causes drunkenness, then any small quantity of this drink is prohibited, because all alcoholics start with small quantities, then they become the slaves of alcohol. Islam does not only prohibit drinking alcoholic drinks, but also prohibits making them. Islam also prohibits carrying, selling, or buying such drinks. According to Islam, if something is prohibited, all means to it are also prohibited.


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http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/9084545/more-child-alcoholics-recorded-in-nz/ (28th March 2011)



More Child Alcoholics Recorded in NZ
AAP March 28, 2011, 7:52 am


More and more children, some as young as nine, are being treated for drug and alcohol addiction in New Zealand and those referred to health specialists are just the tip of the iceberg, experts say. The number of people under 16 being treated in greater Auckland's Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) increased by nearly 20 per cent to 382 last year. Half of that number were treated for alcohol and the rest for cannabis and other drugs. There were 71 treated at Waitemata District Health Board emergency departments for intoxication, The New Zealand Herald reported. The Auckland and Counties Manukau boards have not responded to requests for figures in their areas. The problem was far worse than the figures suggested, CADS child and adolescent psychiatrist Grant Christie said. "Especially with the younger ones - they are here because they got caught by parents, teachers or police and were referred to us. All their mates who didn't get caught, they were still drinking harmfully." Christie said about half the 382 children treated by CADS had problems with alcohol, 40 per cent with cannabis and 5 to 10 per cent with other drugs, including methamphetamine, or solvent abuse. He said it was common for children to be referred because of cannabis use, but to be found to have a greater problem with alcohol. Alcohol Healthwatch health promotion adviser Chris Rogan said the figures should be no surprise to anybody and the situation would not change unless something was done about people's attitudes to alcohol. The figures represented people who were proactive in getting help and were "the very, very tiny tip of a very big iceberg".

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