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 February 2017

Court slaps engineer with RM550,000 fine, jail for wildlife possession without permit !


Source:
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/02/212920/court-slaps-engineer-rm550000-fine-jail-wildlife-possession-without-permit#cxrecs_s

Court slaps engineer with RM550,000 fine, jail for wildlife possession without permit 
BY RAHMAT KHAIRULRIJAL - 16 FEBRUARY 2017 


KAJANG: A 51-year-old engineer was sentenced to four months in prison and fined RM550,000 in default four years imprisonment to nine charges of keeping wildlife without permit. Mohd Taha Abd Wahab, pleaded guilty when the charges were read before Judge Noridah Adam at the Sessions Court here today. Noridah also ordered Taha to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest on Oct 19, 2016. 

 The father of four was served with two charges of keeping a female Malayan tiger and a leopard cat at his house at Kampung Gahal Jaya, Hulu Langat here at 12.30pm on Oct 19. The remaining nine charges were for keeping a Brahminy kite prey bird, a mountain hawk eagle, two white crowned Shama birds, a Schneider’s dwarf caiman crocodile, a mousedeer, a hill myna bird and a white rumped Shama bird at the same place and time. 

 The animals and birds are protected under the First Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). The first charge under Section 70(2) of the Act carries a maximum fine of RM500,000 and five years’ jail upon conviction. The second charge under Section 70(1) of the same Act carries a maximum fine of RM300,000 or 10 years’ jail or both. 

 Four charges under Section 60(1)(a) of the Act carry a maximum of RM50,000 to two years’ jail or both, and three charges under Section 68(1)(a) of the Act carry a maximum fine of RM100,000 or three years’ jail or both. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ainul Mardiyah Mohd Ali said apt punishment must be handed down as this case involved a public interest.

  “This case involved various protected animals and could bring a huge impact to its ecosystems. “The public can keep wildlife but it must be done through a proper channel by applying for permit with the National Park and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan),” she said. Taha’s lawyer Zaflee Pakwanteh said his client had suffered a heart attack and underwent several heart surgeries few years ago. “My client loves exotic animals and keeping these animals serves as therapy for his illness. 

 “This is also his first offence and he promised not to repeat this (keeping wildlife without permit) again,” he said. According to the facts of the case, a team of Perhilitan officers raided Taha’s bungalow and upon inspection, found various wildlife were kept near the premises. The raiding party had confiscated the animals and arrested Taha after he failed to produce valid documents for keeping the wildlife

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/02/212920/court-slaps-engineer-rm550000-fine-jail-wildlife-possession-without-permit#cxrecs_s



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