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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08 April 2014

Hina Islam: Kassim Ahmad ?!


Source: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Mahkamah/20140408/ma_02/Hina-Islam-Kassim-Ahmad-dibicara-6-Mei  (08 April 2014)



DR KASSIM AHMAD 

PUTRAJAYA 7 April - Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah di sini menetapkan 6 dan 7 Mei depan, perbicaraan terhadap bekas aktivis politik dan sosial, Dr. Kassim Ahmad atas dua tuduhan iaitu menghina agama Islam dan mengingkari pihak berkuasa agama dalam sebuah seminar pada Februari lalu.
Hakim Syarie, Azzeman Omar menetapkan tarikh tersebut ketika sebutan semula kes itu hari ini.
Ketua Pendakwa Syarie Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi), Ibrahim Deris memberitahu, pihaknya akan memanggil lebih daripada 10 saksi pendakwaan pada perbicaraan tersebut.

Ketika ditanya pemberita di luar mahkamah sama ada pendakwa akan memanggil Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sebagai saksi, beliau menyatakan setakat ini pihaknya belum merekod keterangan bekas Perdana Menteri itu. Ibrahim turut memaklumkan bahawa pihak pendakwaan belum me-nerima wakalah pelantikan peguam syarie, Akbardin Abdul Kader yang bakal mewakili Kassim.

Bagaimanapun, Kassim memberitahu mahkamah, wakil kepada peguam Akbardin, Ummi Kartini Abd. Latiff hadir pada prosiding hari ini.

Kassim, 81, mengaku tidak bersalah terhadap kedua-dua pertuduhan yang didakwa dilakukan dalam Seminar Pemikiran Kassim Ahmad: Suatu Penilaian 'Hala Tuju Bangsa dan Negara Malaysia Untuk 30 Tahun Akan Datang'.

Seminar tersebut diadakan di Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana, No. 1, Jalan PBH, Presint 8 di sini antara pukul 9 pagi dan 5 petang, 16 Februari lalu.

Bagi pertuduhan pertama, tertuduh didakwa menghina agama Islam ketika membentangkan satu skrip ucapan yang bertajuk 'Ucapan Kepada Konferensi Politik Nasional Untuk Menentukan Hala Tuju Malaysia Untuk 30 tahun Akan Datang' dengan mengatakan Nabi Muhammad tidak perlu dimuliakan dan rambut wanita bukan aurat.

Pada masa yang sama, Kassim turut didakwa mengingkari pihak berkuasa agama dengan memetik dua buku tulisannya yang telah diharamkan oleh Fatwa Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan iaitu 'Hadis Suatu Penilaian Semula' dan 'Hadis Jawapan Kepada Pengkritik'.

Pertuduhan pertama dibuat mengikut Seksyen 7(B) dan pertuduhan kedua, Seksyen 9, masing-masing di bawah Akta Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1997 yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara sehingga dua tahun atau denda maksimum sehingga RM3,000 atau kedua-duanya.

Kassim yang mencetuskan kontroversi berhubung kenyataannya berunsur anti hadis baru-baru ini, ditahan penguat kuasa Jawi dan Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) di rumahnya, di Taman Kulim Perdana, Kelab Golf Kulim, Kedah pada 26 Mac lalu.

Polemik mengenainya tercetus selepas Kassim dalam seminar itu mengeluarkan kenyataan mendakwa Islam di negara ini diseleweng selain mengkritik sistem ulama Islam yang disamakan dengan 'kasta paderi'.
Ekoran kenyataan berkenaan, pelbagai pihak mengecam Kassim sehingga menyebabkan Jakim dan Jawi menahannya.


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