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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02 March 2017

The Killing of Kim Jong Nam at KLIA


The National World
http://www.thenational.ae/world/southeast-asia/north-korean-delegation-arrives-in-malaysia-to-get-body-of-kim-jong-nam
28 February 2017

North Korean delegation arrives in Malaysia to get body of Kim Jong-nam
KUALA LUMPUR // A high-level North Korean delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday seeking the body of leader’s Kim Jong-un’s half brother, the victim of a nerve-agent attack that many suspect Pyongyang itself of orchestrating.
The body of Kim Jong-nam, killed on February 13 at Kuala Lumpur’s airport, is at the centre of a diplomatic battle between North Korea and Malaysia. Pyongyang had opposed Malaysian officials to conduct an autopsy, while Malaysia has resisted giving up the body without getting DNA samples and confirmation from next of kin.
    The delegation includes Ri Tong-il, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations, who said outside the North Korean Embassy on Tuesday that the diplomats were in Malaysia to seek the retrieval of the body and the release of a North Korean arrested in the case. He said the delegation also seeks the "development of friendly relationships" between North Korea and Malaysia.
    Malaysia has confirmed that the victim of the attack is Kim Jong-nam, half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea, however, has identified the victim only as a North Korean national with a diplomatic passport.
      The killing of Kim Jong-nam took place amid crowds of travellers at Kuala Lumpur airport and appeared to be a well-planned hit. Malaysian authorities say North Koreans put the deadly nerve agent VX on the hands of two women who then placed the toxin on Kim’s face. Kim died on the way to a hospital, within about 20 minutes of the attack.
      Malaysian attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali said that the two women accused of killing Kim — Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong — will be charged with murder Wednesday and would face a mandatory death sentence if convicted.
        Two other suspects in the killing have been arrested: a Malaysian who is out on bail and a North Korean who remains in custody. Asked if the North Korean will be charged, Mr Apandi said it depends on the outcome of the investigations.
        Authorities are seeking another seven North Korean suspects, including four who fled the country the day of Kim’s death and are believed to be back in North Korea.
        * Associated Press
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         Comment:  

         "Malaysian attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali said that the two women accused of killing Kim — Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong — will be charged with murder Wednesday and would face a mandatory death sentence if convicted..."

         The two women are only the small fish, who are tricked into killing of Kim Jong Nam. The United Nations and International Court of Justice (ICOJ) must charged and trial Kim Jong Un for the death of Kim Jong Nam if new evidences emerged.

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