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

.

24 February 2014

Super Rich Cop ?!


Source:  http://www.thesundaily.my/news/966135

‘RM20m cop’ under probe

Posted on 23 February 2014 - 10:20pm
Last updated on 24 February 2014 - 08:56am


--------------------------
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24, 2014): A senior police officer investigated with 59 others for corruption and money laundering in the last six months, had amassed RM20 million in several bank accounts.
A senior Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer who declined to be named, revealed to The Malaysian Insider, that the senior police officer could not account for the staggering amount in his possession.
"The investigators were shocked to discover the massive amount from this senior cop but we believe there is more to uncovered," the source said.
The 60 cops, the biggest number being investigated simultaneously by the MACC in recent times, are mostly high-ranking officers.
The task force, spearheaded by Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, comprises senior officials from the MACC, Bank Negara, the Inland Revenue Board, the National Registration Department, the Immigration Department, the Customs Department, the Securities Commission and the police.
The Malaysian Insider had reported on January 25 that a senior police officer, one of 60 cops under probe, is among several policemen brokering deals with the MACC to assist in fingering more crooked cops in return for immunity from prosecution.
"Investigators have discovered about 30 senior police officers who are living beyond their means. Many of these senior police officers were found to have at least RM1 million or more in their respective bank accounts. These officers did not even bother to hide their wealth," an official said.
The policemen were alleged to have collected bribes from operators of illegal businesses such as illegal gaming cybercafes, massage parlours and vice dens in the federal capital. Depending on the type of business, each operator paid between RM10,000 and RM50,000 a month to the policemen to avoid being raided.
Due to the probe, a senior police officer with a "Datuk" honorific was transferred to the Bukit Aman police secretariat.
The Datuk was questioned by the MACC which discovered more than RM6 million stashed away in various accounts.
However, the MACC official had told The Malaysian Insider then that the RM6 million was merely the tip of the iceberg.
As investigations intensified, MACC had also seized luxury vehicles, such as a Range Rover Evoque (worth RM400,000), Nissan Skyline (RM388,000), Toyota Vellfire (RM450,000), BMW 7-series (RM800,000) and Mercedes-Benz E-class (RM400,000) from the suspects.
Besides properties and luxury vehicles, police had also seized a substantial amount of money, jewellery and gold from some of the policemen.


Posted by at