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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01 February 2016

Swiss Prosecutors Request Malaysian help in Graft Probe Linked to 1MDB


Source:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/swiss-prosecutors-request-malaysian-help-234745839.html?nhp=1

Swiss prosecutors request Malaysian help in graft probe linked to 1MDB

The Malaysian Insider
January 30, 2016
Swiss prosecutors have requested assistance from Malaysian authorities in investigating massive theft from a state-owned firm at the centre of a graft scandal.

Swiss investigators believe around US$4 billion (RM16.8 billion) has been stolen from Malaysian state-owned companies, funding that was earmarked for economic and social development projects in Malaysia.
"A small portion" of the cash was transferred into Swiss accounts held by former Malaysian officials as well as current and former officials from the United Arab Emirates, the Swiss attorney-general's (A-G) office said in a statement.
"To date, however, the Malaysian companies concerned have made no comment on the losses they are believed to have incurred," prosecutors added.
"The object of the request for mutual assistance is therefore to advise the companies and the Malaysian government of the results of the Swiss criminal proceedings, with the aim of finding out whether losses on this scale have been sustained."
In September, authorities announced the freezing of "tens of millions of dollars" worth of assets held in Swiss accounts as part of the investigation.
The A-G's office said the assistance request was made as part of criminal proceedings opened last August against two former officials of Malaysian state-owned fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and "persons unknown".
They are suspected of bribing foreign officials, misconduct in a public office, money laundering and criminal mismanagement.
"So far four cases involving allegations of criminal conduct and covering the period from 2009 to 2013 have come to light," the statement said, "each involving a systematic course of action carried out by means of complex financial structures."
The assistance request had already been discussed at a meeting between the Swiss A-G and his Malaysian counterpart in Zurich in September, the statement added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been under heavy political pressure over allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars were missing from deals involving 1MDB.
He has for months denied accusations that huge payments into his own bank accounts – just before a hotly contested 2013 general election – were syphoned from the now-struggling state-owned company.
On Tuesday, Malaysia's A-G Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali said the Saudi royal family was the source of the US$681 million "donation" to his personal accounts.
But the announcement triggered derision and fresh questions in a country well-used to graft allegations. – AFP, January 30, 2016.



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