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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07 January 2013

Janet Jackson & Wissam al-Mana




Janet Jackson, wealthy Qatari planning $20-million wedding




Janet Jackson and her fiancé Wissam al-Mana have been dating since summer 2010, according to media reports. (AFP)


By AL ARABIYA 
Janet Jackson and her millionaire fiancé Wissam al-Mana are planning to tie the knot in the Qatari capital Doha in a lavish $20-million dollar wedding set to take place in 2013, according to media reports on Wednesday. 

An insider told the National Enquirer magazine that the ceremony will be “one of the biggest, most memorable extravaganzas in recent history.”

“They have tentatively set a late 2013 wedding date. But they are still working out the details and the exact day,” the source told the magazine.
Renowned Turkish author Adnan Oktar (aka Harun Yahya) claimed, during an interview with a Turkish network in 2010, that Janet, 46, and her late brother Michael Jackson, had converted to Islam.

“I sent that nice Janet Jack¬son a copy of my book,” Adnan said. “I also sent her late brother a copy. Her brother was a Muslim. Janet is also, in fact, a Mus¬lim. Like her brother, she keeps it hidden.” “She is a devout believ¬er…like her brother.”

The couple plan to spend $3 million to fly in their 500 wedding guests from all over the world, according to reports. Wissam reportedly plans to offer all guests a $10,000 Rolex watch apiece as a thank you for attending.

“Wissam is going to splash big when he marries Janet. It’s going to be the wedding of the century,” the unnamed insider told the the National Enquirer.

Wissam is reportedly 10 years younger than Janet and they both have been dating since summer 2010. He reportedly proposed to her last year with a 15-carat diamond ring.

Mana, 36, is an executive for al-Mana Group, a large family-controlled business entity in Qatar.

“My mother always raised us to believe that age was just a number. All of us - my sisters, my brothers - we’ll just tell you our ages because it’s all about where you are mentally and how you feel about yourself. It doesn’t matter,” Janet reportedly said once.


Tiga Gadis Tiang Didenda RM25 ?!



Tiga 'gadis tiang' didenda RM25

RASAH 28 Mac - Denda maksimum RM25. Itu hukuman yang dijatuhkan oleh Mahkamah Majistret Seremban, dekat sini hari ini ke atas tiga gadis yang terlibat dalam aksi menari tiang di sebuah pusat hiburan di Nilai pada Sabtu lalu.

Ketiga-tiga mereka masing-masing dikenakan denda tersebut setelah mengaku bersalah atas tuduhan berkelakuan kurang sopan dengan berpakaian seksi dan melakukan aksi mengghairahkan.

Faiqah Azizan, 24, Nurul Huda Abdul Rahman, 23, Nooranishah Mohamad Isa, 19, yang masing-masing memakai baju kurung dan bertudung hanya mengangguk kepala tanda mengaku selepas pertuduhan dibacakan kepada mereka di hadapan Majistret Mohamad Izwan Mohamed Noh.

Mengikut kertas pertuduhan, mereka didakwa menari di atas pentas dengan mengenakan pakaian seksi serta melakukan aksi mengghairahkan selain berkelakuan kurang sopan di tempat hiburan awam.
Perbuatan itu dilakukan di sebuah pusat hiburan di Putra Nilai, Nilai kira-kira pukul 2.20 pagi, 24 Mac lalu.

Ketiga-tiga mereka didakwa melakukan kesalahan mengikut Seksyen 21 Akta Kesalahan-Kesalahan Kecil 1955 (Akta 336) yang memperuntukkan hukuman denda tidak lebih RM25 atau penjara maksimum 14 hari.

Sebelum menjatuhkan hukuman, Mohamad Izwan menasihatkan agar tertuduh-tertuduh insaf dan tidak mengulangi perbuatan itu demi menjaga nama baik keluarga masing-masing.

Pendakwaan dikendalikan oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya, Kaiyisah Shukri manakala ketiga-tiga gadis tertuduh tidak diwakili peguam bela.

Utusan Malaysia sebelum ini melaporkan, sepasukan anggota Bahagian Kongsi Gelap, Judi dan Maksiat (D7), Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen (IPK) negeri bersama Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan (JHEAINS) dan Cawangan Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Narkotik negeri memberkas 32 orang termasuk tiga gadis berkenaan atas pelbagai kesalahan.



23 December 2012

Rich Spoiled KIDS !



Source:
(23 DEC 2012)

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Prince of Dubai

(Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for DIFF)

The 29-year-old crown prince of Dubai and son of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, leads a charmed life.

For starters, he drives a diamond-studded, mink-finished Mercedes that's worth an estimated $4.8 million and cruises in the world's largest yacht, which has a $300 million price tag.
[
http://classic.cnbc.com/id/48352581/page/2 ][ http://www.superyachts.com/ ]

He also has an affinity for practicing sports and spends his days scuba diving, sky diving, jet skiing, and body boarding.

He also enjoys traveling. When he was in New York in June, the Prince ordered a $1,000 dessert, which was served in a $300 Baccarat goblet complete with edible gold and Tahitian vanilla ice cream.


SAMPLE (of a Super Yacht): USD$300-600 Millions


















Source:  
Haji 'Abdul 'Azim, Prince of Brunei




















[Youtube]

For his 30th birthday, Prince Azim of Brunei pulled out all the stops and invited A-listers like Pamela Anderson and Marisa Tomei to anenormous celebration at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

But lavish parties have always been his thing. In 2009, the billionaire playboy reportedly threw the "Party of the Year," spending over $70,000 euros on the flowers alone. 

Guests can always count on leaving the Prince's celebrations with some pretty stellar party favors, including iPods, diamond jewelry, and luxury Crème de la Mer face creams.

And if you're a real bestie, he may just spoil you rotten. Mail Online reports that the Brunei Prince gifted $6 million worth of jewels to long-time friend Mariah Carey in 1996.


Source: 

Vorayud Yoovidhaya, grandson of Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhya




















                                          [YouTube]

Forbes magazine ranked the Yoovidhaya family as the fourth richest family in Thailand this year, with an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion.

But the grandson of Red Bull creator Chaleo Yoovidhya, is known for milking his family's deep pockets for all they are worth.

In October of this year, 27-year-old Vorayud Yoovidhaya was accused in the hit-and-run death of a police officer and had his father paythe officer's family $97,000 to stall the civil lawsuit.

The car involved in the accident was a Ferrari and is valued at about $1 million.



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06 May 2012

Susann Bashir, Muslim Woman Convert, Wins $5 Million Verdict From AT&T For Discrimination !



Comment: 

1- VERY GOOD... Sue all the bl**dy ignorant and arrogant b**tards !!  

2- TIME and again, policy and regulations have been put in place at the workplace, to safeguard and protect the employees from sexual harassment and other misconduct, abuse of power, and ill-management. 

3- BUT IF people don't learn, and behaves irresponsibly, then SUE them in the court of laws. 

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(6 May 2012)  

By Carey Gillam

Susann Bashir, Muslim Woman Convert, Wins $5 Million Verdict From AT&T For Discrimination
Reuters  |  Posted: 05/04/2012 6:33 pm Updated: 05/05/2012 4:18 pm


KANSAS CITY, Mo. May 4 (Reuters) - A Kansas City woman who converted from Christianity to Islam has been awarded $5 million in punitive damages by a jury who found the telecommunications giant AT&T created a "hostile work environment" after her conversion, according to a judge's order issued Friday.

Susann Bashir, a 41-year-old married mother, sued AT&T unit Southwestern Bell for what she said was a pattern of offensive and discriminatory conduct by her supervisors that began when she converted to Islam in 2005, six years after she started working for the company as a network technician.

After Bashir started wearing a religious head scarf known as a hijab, and attending Friday mosque services, her managers and co-workers called her names including "terrorist," and told her she was going to hell, said her attorney Amy Coopman.

A manager repeatedly told her to remove her hijab, insulted her for wearing it, and once physically grabbed Bashir and tried to rip the hijab off her head, according to the suit.

Bashir complained to human resources and then filed a formal complaint alleging discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was subsequently fired in 2010.

After several days of hearing testimony and deliberation, a jury in Jackson County Circuit Court on Thursday ordered AT&T to pay $5 million in punitive damages on top of $120,000 in actual damages.

AT&T spokesman Marty Richter said the company would appeal.

"AT&T is a nationally recognized leader in workforce diversity and inclusion, something in which we take great pride. We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal," Richter said.

Bashir's lawyer said the jury award was "monumental" to Bashir, but said it had little impact on AT&T, a multi-billion-dollar global corporation.

"The company has an excellent written policy," said Coopman.

"If they had just followed the policy none of this would have happened."






29 April 2012

BRITAIN's Top 10 Billionaires



Comment: IT is irony, but yes, Britain top billionaires list are Indians (Not just the Top 10, but also the Top 50, and 100, in other international list as well) !!    

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http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13548675/wealth-of-britains-richest-hits-record-high/
(29 April 2012)



BRITAIN's Top 10 billionaires in the Sunday Times Rich List 2012 (last year's rank in brackets):

1. Lakshmi Mittal and family -- steel -- £12.7 billion (1st)

2. Alisher Usmanov -- steel -- £12.3 billion (2nd)

3. Roman Abramovich -- oil, industry -- £9.5 billion (3rd)

4. Sri and Gopi Hinduja -- industry, finance -- £8.6 billion (9th)

5. Leonard Blavatnik -- industry -- £7.58 billion (6th)

6. Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli -- pharmaceuticals -- £7.4 billion (5th)

7. The Duke of Westminster -- property -- £7.35 billion (3rd)

8. David and Simon Reuben -- property, Internet -- £7.08 billion (8th)

9. John Fredriksen and family -- shipping -- £6.6 billion (7th)

10. Galen and George Weston and family -- retail -- £5.9 billion (10th)




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21 April 2012

Shah Rukh Khan Airport Detentions !



COMMENT: 

Detention and apology routine in USA airports, are getting too f**king old, and obsolete! I know these USA personnel never watch a Bollywood movies their whole life, but that does not give them the right to 'detent' anyone that looks like they are from the Middle-east, Arabs, Pakistan, and Muslim. 

Imagine IF Asia countries and Middle-east airport officers detent celebrities from the USA??! Sure there are going to be a huge uproar, in the USA mass-media.   

Also why is there no news or protest among USA celebrities about Shah Rukh Khan detention by airport authorities? So much about the civil society concept and philosophy of the USA, I guess it ONLY applies to USA citizens only.

Another country that has the same outlook is Australia. Don't be surprised IF they detent Middle-east, Arabs, Pakistan, and Muslim - as they too has similar profiling method.

HELLO, Mr Shah Rukh Khan arrives in a private aircraft... does that tells you anything about him?? How rich, how popular, how well-known... OH I see, a TERRORIST arrives in a private aircraft... And how often does that happens? USE your f**king heads you stupid arrogant USA immigration officers, don't you guys even attend universities or colleges???  

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(21 April 2012) 

21 April 2012 | last updated at 08:45am

'Detention and Apology' Routine is Getting Old
By Nuraina Samad | news@nst.com.my


MY NAME IS KHAN: And I shouldn't be profiled

WHEN my son, Adel Hakim, was searching for a university that offered actuarial science three years ago, I was hoping he would skip the list in the United States. He did not but he narrowed it down to those in the United Kingdom and Canada, finally choosing the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

 I was quietly relieved because, silly as it may sound, I was worried that he'd be the subject of racial profiling by US immigration officers. Never mind if, at that time, it was almost a decade after the 9/11 incident. 

 His name is spelt in a typically Arabic way. If you Google his name, you will find many Adels from the Middle-east and Pakistan.

 At that time, images of the notorious Guantanamo and its prisoners played on my mind. The mighty US could detain anyone they suspected of being a terrorist. A tall dark Malaysian Muslim with a name like Adel Hakim seemed a likely candidate for Gitmo. Yes, I was paranoid.

 There had been too many first-hand stories from people. That same year, the King of Bollywood aka Shah Rukh Khan was detained at Newark Airport in New Jersey. According to reports, he was allowed out only after extensive questioning.

 I mean, Shah Rukh Khan for heavens' sake -- Bollywood heartthrob and immensely recognisable with, according to the Indian press, fans numbering in the billions. You could not but ask "why"? There was no good answer. So you ask: was the actor a victim of racial profiling in an Islamophobic America?

 Following that incident, US officials attempted to justify Khan's "detention". There were reports citing US sources that "Bollywood stars and other Indian artistes were under the scanner for financial transactions, including illegal cash payments, that some of them get through dodgy promoters".

 Khan is not the only Indian celebrity to have that immigration experience. Among others were Aamir Khan, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irfan Khan.

Last Thursday, the 46-year-old Khan was detained for the second time -- this time at the airport in White Plains, New York.

 He arrived in a private aircraft, en route to deliver a lecture at Yale University where he was inducted as a Chubb Fellow. He was detained for 90 minutes. Yale University officials had to intervene after which he was released.

 Such irony. Life imitating art. In 2010, he starred in the movie My Name is Khan in which he got to say many times "...and I am not a terrorist".

 So, Mr Khan may have adoring fans the world over but at the airport in White Plains, he was just another Khan whose name (must have) matched those on the Interpol blacklist or the database of terrorist suspects.

 The Indian government pressed for an explanation from the US as there was "deep concern that has been expressed nationwide in India over this incident".

 The Indian embassy in Washington also sought the State Department's intervention "to put in place measures so that such incidents are not repeated in future".

 The US embassy in India issued a statement last Friday apologising for the incident. Mark Toner, spokesman for the State Department, in remarks on Khan's detention, ruled out any pattern or racial profiling. The US Customs and Border Protection addressed a letter to India's New York Mission with "profound" apologies for the incident.

 But, as they say "sorry is no cure" and to the Indian government it just "won't do". Its Minister of External Affairs S. M. Krishna remarked that this "habit of detention and apology cannot continue."

 Khan, who was delayed by three hours for his Yale event, was reported to have told his audience that this "always happens when I come to America".

 "Whenever I start feeling too arrogant about myself I take a trip to America. These immigration guys, they kick the stars out of stardom", he jested.

 The US tightening of security and preventive measures allows for random selection, which is supposed to be more effective, but security experts say that one setback is the singling out of many innocent people.

 Adel plans to visit his buddies in the US. I hope he drops the idea. I'm not convinced that  US immigration officers have all got over their ignorance, paranoia and phobia of anyone who resembles a Middle-eastern person or who has a strange-sounding name.

 As I have said, with a name like Adel Hakim, anything can happen. He's no celebrity and I don't have a sense of humour.

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NOTE:

Shah Rukh Khan had a big big headache after the First Airport Detention, then comes the Second Airport Detention... What is wrong? Is it because of my poor outlook one would ask? NO, Shah Rukh Khan dressed just beautifully... IS it because I am poor? NO, Shah Rukh Khan came into USA in a private jet, that tells the airport authorities who he is, even without a spoken word... So what is the conclusion??

Singling out Muslims, paranoia of Muslims, and Islamophobia - that's the exact words! Well to cut short the story, USA airport authorities use the manuals (books), which are written by the JEWS, who typically hated the Muslim (e.g. Pakistan, India, Middle-east, and some parts of Asia). The airport authorities are just the 'underdogs' who are trained to read the manuals, written by the Jews. Had the airport authorities read manuals written by other than the Jews, the cases of racial and religious discrimination, and 'unnecessary profiling', would definitely reduced by almost more than half !!

DON'T get big headache from these detentions... you don't need to obtain a degree in philosophy in order to understand, just like I said, the Airport Manuals and Security Manuals - are written by the JEWS... So profiling the Muslims are the 'natural' procedure, and 'necessity procedure.' WHO hated the Muslims more IF not the JEWS ?? I hope the readers understand.  

Believe me... the Jews do not favor the Christians too, but they need the Christians as soldiers for their missions! (e.g. the airport security officers who screen/examine/scrutinize the Muslims at the airport entrances).



03 April 2012

Safee Sali to Earn RM90,000 a Month !

Comment:

It is estimate that the Malaysian Safee Sali will earn about USD30,000 a month (RM90,000-RM120,000), that's equivalent to the official monthly salary of a minister in Malaysia, or a YEAR salary of a professor in Malaysia !!

And you think that USD30,000 a month is so much, think again!  Ronaldo earns 20 times more and that does not include the many advertisements and ambassador of products and images and the payment that Ronaldo received !!  

Again, one would wonder how the ministers in Malaysia manage to own many big houses and luxury apartments with the official gazetted salary of RM45,000 a month or less. Think again?!

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(3rd April 2012)

Safee Sali to earn RM90,000 a month
By Ajitpal Singh

SAFEE Sali is officially the first local millionaire footballer after he signed an improved two-year contract extension with Indonesian Super League (ISL) side Pelita Jaya FC in Jakarta today.

The deal which the 28-year-old inked is worth more than RM2 million and includes an extensive match bonus package, a house and a car with a personal driver.

Safee’s taxes will be paid by the club, as well as any travelling expenses to Kuala Lumpur.
According to the contract, Safee will earn US$30,000 (RM90,000) a month, which will also make him one of the highest earners in the ISL.

Safee will also receive an additional ‘image rights’ package managed by the club for all commercial endorsements.

The contract also has a levy which could see the striker playing for a subsidiary club owned by Pelita Jaya Cronus, “depending on the various rules of the respective leagues.”

These clubs include Australia's Brisbane Roar, who will be playing in this year’s AFC Champions League, Belgium’s second division team CS Vise and SAD Uruguay.

All three clubs are owned by Cronus. “My football has improved so much and even my peers have commented on it since I moved to Indonesia last February,” said Safee in Jakarta today.


Read more: Safee Sali to earn RM90,000 a month - Top News - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/safee-sali-to-earn-rm90-000-a-month-1.40276#ixzz1qywbwCFv


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