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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17 March 2016

Total of 3,677 cops hauled up for criminal activities between 2010 and 2015, Home Ministry says !




Source:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ttotal-3-677-cops-hauled-criminal-activities-between-232500041.html



Total of 3,677 cops hauled up for criminal activities between 2010 and 2015, Home Ministry says

By Vanessa Ee-Lyn Gomes
The Malay Mail Online
March 17, 2016
KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 —  A total of 3,677 police personnel were arrested for alleged involvement in criminal activities between 2010 and 2015. 
From this, 2,312 had investigations against them dropped, and 521 were charged in court. 
A total of 844 cases have yet to be concluded.
In a written reply to a question from Gobind Singh Deo (DAP — Puchong) in Parliament yesterday, the Home Ministry also said the police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department was taking proactive measures and ensuring that officers adhered to rules and regulations.
“They do spotchecks on front-liners in the field or go undercover physically or through phone calls to make sure officers in the field are complying with rules and instructions,” it said.
“Urine tests are also done to ensure officers are not involved in drug abuse that could be associated with corruption and involvement in crime.”
Gobind had asked the ministry to provide the number of police officers arrested for criminal offences since 2010 and efforts made to reduce their involvement in crime.
The ministry said it had also launched anti-corruption campaigns to create awareness among the public not to offer bribes to officers as well as encourage officers not to be involved in corruption.
“Posters were distributed in areas with high people traffic such as information offices, investigating officers’ rooms and the traffic branch to remind people not to bribe officers,” it said. 
Another anti-corruption campaign was launched in April 2014, which saw 17 anti-corruption cases reported, resulting in the arrest of  22 people offering bribes.
“Certificates of appreciation were given to 50 officers for declining bribes,” it said.
“The campaign had a positive impact on the officers as well as the community, so the police leadership has decided to continue the campaign.”
The police also took a corrective approach by forming the Religious and Counselling Division for officers to instil integrity.




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