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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05 December 2017

Malaysian Girl went on Shopping Spree with some amount of A$4.6 Million !


Source:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2017/12/309588/australian-prosecutors-drop-charges-against-malaysian-woman-who








By Veena Babulal - December 1, 2017 @ 8:10pm
SYDNEY: Prosecutors have dropped all charges against a 21-year-old Malaysian woman who allegedly spent A$4.6 million (RM14.26 million) on designer goods, after she had been unwittingly provided with an unlimited overdraft account by her Australian bank.
Christine Jiaxin Lee who was pursuing Chemical Engineering in Sydney University had allegedly splurged on designer handbags, clothes, jewellery, mobile phones and even a vacuum cleaner over the period of 11 months according to local media.
News portal news.com.au, however, reported that prosecutors dropped charges on Lee following a similar case involving a man who was charged with fraud for withdrawing A$2.1 million(RM6.51 million) from automated-teller machines had been thrown out of court.
The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) also confirmed with The Straits Times that the charges had been withdrawn on Nov 2.
Lee’s lawyer, Hugo Aston also told the Daily Telegraph his client would be moving back to Malaysia following the outcome of the case.
“She is happy it is behind her, and to move on with her life.
“There was no deception. It's a very interesting case and an interesting outcome. It is obviously clear the bank should adopt better policies,” Aston was quoted as saying.


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Comment:  IF the same case happens here in Malaysia, I am sure, the court may have different interpretations and outcomes. I should say, lucky for her ! 


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