Showing posts with label freedom of speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom of speech. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Speech | ARTE.tv Culture

In 2022, Salman Rushdie narrowly survived an assassination attempt by an Islamic extremist. This year's winner of the German Publishers' Peace Prize at the Frankfurt Book Fair, we interview the acclaimed writer in New York. Also in the programme: Russian journalist Elena Kostyutchenko, Slovenian authors Pia Prezelj and Suzana Tratnik, and a focus on the graphic novel “Woman, Life, Freedom" by Marjane Satrapi.

Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Speech | ARTE.tv Culture


Thursday, September 07, 2023

The Escalating Frequency of Quran Burnings in Sweden and Denmark Sparks Outrage in the Muslim World

Sep 4, 2023 | The burning of the Quran in Denmark and Sweden has raised security concerns both domestically and internationally for the traditionally secular Nordic nations. Denmark has recently suggested a ban on burning all sacred texts. Could this move by Copenhagen be a solution that balances the preservation of freedom of speech while also addressing security and diplomatic challenges?


That Denmark is re-introducing a form of blasphemy law to deal with these Quran burnings is as insane as it is outrageous. This will put Denmark, once a bastion of enlightened liberal values, on a fast track to the ‘New Dark Age’ I wrote of so many years ago!

It is not difficult to understand WHY the Danish government may conclude that this is the right political decision; but it is NOT. The re-introduction of ANY form of blasphemy law is WRONG. And it is wrong in so many ways and for so many reasons.

The blasphemy law in Denmark has only relatively recently been repealed. I am pretty sure that it was never, if ever, used by the Danish Christian community. But here, we are dealing with a very different community! The Muslim community will take every opportunity to use this law against any perceived transgressor. Be sure of one thing, Denmark: The Danish courts will used by Muslims to help firmly establish Islam’s hoped-for supremacy in the country.

By re-introducing a rejigged blasphemy law into the nation’s statute books, Denmark is embarking on a new journey on a very slippery and dangerous road.

This is the beginning of the end of true freedom for the Danes. – © Mark Alexander

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Finnish Politician Could Face Jail Time after Sharing Bible Verse

Aug 10, 2023 | A Finnish politician on trial for sharing her biblical views on sexuality is heading back to court later this month as her four-year legal battle stretches on. Dr. Päivi Räsänen, the embattled member of Finland’s parliament, told CBN's Faithwire [that] a hearing in a prosecutor's appeal after she was cleared of hate speech charges last year is scheduled for Aug. 31. She said she's prepared to defend herself in any and all necessary courts of law.

"It was four years ago in June 2019 when I posted a Twitter post and also to Facebook, and it was about the Pride event that was going on, and the main church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, decided to support it officially," Räsänen said. "And it was a shock to me, and as a member of that church ... I asked the leadership of my church ... how is it possible that you are supporting something, as a matter of pride, what the Bible calls shame and sin."

Her simple social media post, which included Scripture from the Book of Romans, soon landed her in legal hot water, as a citizen made a criminal complaint. Then other past comments from Räsänen came under scrutiny. Another complaint was reportedly filed over a radio program she was on and another over an old pamphlet she wrote about same-sex relationships. Police interrogated Räsänen over her views and Finnish prosecutors decided to up the ante and file charges.

"I was first interrogated by the police altogether 13 hours," Räsänen said. "And I have to say that the situation was really absurd, because just some years ago I was a minister of interior in charge of police." Räsänen was accused of "inciting against sexual minorities," a charge which could carry two years in jail, or a fine. Listen to her story…



It seems clear to me that we, on this side of the Pond, need to have a written constitution so that we know exactly what can and cannot be said, or written.

I have raised this point before in a newspaper comment in the Telegraph. Here in the UK, there have been so many changes in the make-up of the country and in the nation's value systems, and in a very short time, that it has become very difficult to know exactly what may, or may not, be said or stated without falling foul of the law.

Americans, by contrast, do not have this problem, because they have a written constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. We Brits, however, have no such clear determination or understanding of freedom of speech or expression. In the UK, it is a fudge. Yes, we have freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but with restrictions. (See here). Where there are restrictions, there is no total freedom. So the whole thing is left open to another’s interpretation of what is right and/or fair.

This might have been acceptable and workable in a bygone age, whilst the nation was made up of the indigenous peoples of the UK, who were largely Christian in belief and lifestyle. But today, this is clearly not the case. Today, we have a hotchpotch of beliefs and non-belief, and a hotchpotch of sexual orientations, too. All must somehow live together in total harmony. But for this total harmony to be facilitated, people need to know exactly where they stand and they need to know exactly what can and what cannot be said, or written. A written constitution is the answer. – © Mark Alexander

Sunday, January 02, 2022

It’s Not the Police’s Job to Shut Down Political Debate. They Should Stick to Solving Crime

THE OBSERVER – OPINION: The appeals court has rightly upheld Harry Miller’s freedom to express his views

Aman gets a call from a police officer. He is told that, while he has done nothing criminal, his social media posts have offended someone, so the police have recorded them as a non-crime hate incident that may show up on criminal record checks. The officer warns that if he continues to “escalate” matters, the police may take criminal action against him, a message later reinforced by his superiors.

It may sound like something out of a police state. But this happened in Britain in 2019, in a case that led the high court judge who later ruled the actions of Humberside police force unlawful to warn them, “in this country we have never had a Cheka, a Gestapo or a Stasi”. Despite there being no evidence that Harry Miller, the man in question, might ever stray into unlawful speech, the police took action that reasonably led him to believe that he was being warned not to exercise his right to freedom of expression on pain of potential criminal prosecution; they also opined to the press that Miller’s tweets were “transphobic”.

And just before Christmas, in a landmark judgment that has attracted surprisingly little commentary from human rights lawyers given its profound implications, the court of appeal went further in ruling that the College of Policing’s guidance that the police should record all non-crime hate incidents, as perceived by those taking offence at them, is an unlawful incursion on citizens’ freedom of expression. » | Sonia Sodha | Sunday, January 2, 2022

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Labour to Vote against Tory ‘Hate Speech’ Bill

THE OBSERVER: Plans to protect free speech leave universities in England and Wales ‘at risk of being sued’ by anti-vaxxers and Holocaust deniers

Government plans to “safeguard” free speech in universities would allow Holocaust deniers, anti-vaccination groups and conspiracy theorists to take legal action against higher education organisations that denied them a platform to air their views, Labour said last night.

Announcing that its MPs would vote against the higher education (freedom of speech) bill, which has its second reading in the Commons this week, Labour claimed that it was a hugely divisive and harmful “hate speech bill”.

Universities UK and the National Union of Students have also expressed grave concerns about the bill, suggesting it is wildly disproportionate, and could leave institutions and student unions wide open to costly legal actions from people making vexatious or frivolous claims that they have been denied public platforms. » | Toby Helm, Political editor | Sunday, July 11, 2021

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Bad News in the Battle for Freedom of Speech


Ezra Levant of TheRebel.media reports more bad news in the battle for freedom of speech as the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his appeal of the defamation judgment against him.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Robert Spencer on the Jihad Against the Freedom of Speech


On November 12, 2016, Jihad Watch director Robert Spencer spoke at the David Horowitz Freedom Center's Restoration Weekend at The Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida, on the ongoing Islamic efforts to compel the U.S. and the West to curtail the freedom of speech.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Freedom of Speech Conference – Sweden | Hamed Abdel Samad


The conference DANGEROUS WORDS 250 was held in Stockholm October 1st, 2016, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Swedish Freedom of the Press Act.

Saturday, March 05, 2016

Meet the Salman Rushdie of Sweden and Other European Freedom Fighters


Ezra Levant of TheRebel.media interviews Swedish artists Dan Park and Lars Vilks, and Danish publisher Lars Hedegaard, all of whom have been attacked by both Muslims and their own governments for criticizing Islam.

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Mark Levin Responds to Bill O’Reilly on Garland Terrorist Attack


Mark Levin has heard enough when it comes to the constant drumbeat of pundits and guests making the terrorist attack against Pamela Geller’s private Drawing Muhammad event about provocation. Last night Levin defended Geller, responding to comments made by Bill O’Reilly and others, saying this isn’t about provocation or emotions or even about freedom of speech, but rather it’s about Sharia Law.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Washington DC Officials Block Muhammad Subway Cartoon

Ms Geller is an outspoken critic of Islam
BBC AMERICA: Transport officials in Washington DC have blocked plans by an American free speech pressure group to have a controversial cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad displayed on the subway.

The American Freedom Defense Initiative wanted to display the cartoon, which won first prize at an event in Texas.

Two gunmen were shot dead by police outside the event earlier this month.

Washington transport authorities on Thursday banned political, religious and advocacy adverts on the subway.

The transport authority in the US capital voted unanimously to suspend advertisements it describes as "issue-oriented".

AFDI founder Pamela Geller strongly criticised the decision to ban the advert, describing it as an attack on free[dom] of speech.

Ms Geller commented on her website that "rewarding terror with submission is defeat, absolute and complete defeat. "These cowards may claim that they are making people safer, but I submit to you the opposite. They are making it far more dangerous for Americans everywhere."

The advert calls for Americans to support free speech and features a bearded, turban-wearing Muhammad waving a sword and shouting: "You can't draw me!"

In reply, a cartoon bubble portrays an artist grasping a pencil and saying: "That's why I draw you." » | Friday, May 29, 2015

JIHAD WATCH: Assassin’s veto: Washington Transit Authority shuts down free speech, suspends all issue-related ads » | Robert Spencer | Thursday, May 28, 2015

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Editor at Centre of Mohammed Cartoons Controversy in Denmark Nominated for Nobel Prize

Flemming Rose
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Flemming Rose, of Jyllands-Posten, nominated over stance for freedom of speech

The Danish newspaper editor who published cartoons of the prophet Mohammed nearly a decade ago has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France.

Flemming Rose, 58, who still lives under police guard because of death threats, was put forward for this year's award by Michael Tetzschner, a Norwegian MP.

The move was a response to the attack by Islamist gunmen on cartoonists at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris last month.

"Giving the prize to a consistent defender of freedom of expression, even at a personal cost, would give a sign that those who try to muzzle that freedom through cowardly attacks against civilians, thus undermining peace between peoples, cannot ever succeed," Mr Tetzschner wrote in his letter to the Nobel committee, according to Norway's NTB news agency.

As cultural editor of Denmark's Jyllands-Posten, Mr Rose he was principally responsible for commissioning a series of drawings of Mohammed that were published in September 2005. Most strands of Islam disapprove of depictions of Mohammed, viewing it as akin to idolatry. » | Colin Freeman, Chief foreign correspondent | Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Friday, January 09, 2015

Our Politicians Like Talking About Free Speech. Now Will They Let Us Have It?


THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Our leaders must now come out as liberals, rather than rather narrow[-]minded opportunists

As a victim of terrorism myself, when the terrorists strike as they have done in Paris, my first thoughts are for the victims, their families and friends.

After that of course we begin to think more deeply about the factors behind the outrages.

We should not discount the existence in all societies of a tiny minority of mentally ill, psychopathic individuals seeking notoriety by committing particularly foul crimes.

When such people live in minority communities harbouring resentment and grudges against the mainstream society, there is a natural seed bed for the cultivation of the grapes of wrath.

Mr Farage put that more bluntly with his comments about fifth columns within multicultural societies. That is, groups within minority cultural groups who work for the overthrow of the broader society in which they live. Or once again as Mr Farage put it: "people living in these countries (Britain and France) holding our passports who hates us." » | Norman Tebbit | Friday, January 09, 2015

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Freedom of Speech Is 'Universal' Right, Michelle Obama Tells China

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Amid a growing crackdown on Chinese dissidents, the US First Lady tells an audience in Beijing that the "questioning and criticism" of political leaders is crucial

Freedom of information, expression and belief should be considered "universal rights", Michelle Obama, the US first lady, told students in China on Saturday.

Speaking at Peking University on the second full day of a weeklong, bridge-building family tour of the country, Mrs Obama said: "It is so important for information and ideas to flow freely over the internet and through the media."

"When it comes to expressing yourself freely, and worshipping as you choose, and having open access to information - we believe those are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet," Mrs Obama told an audience of around 200 students.

"My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens, and it's not always easy.

"But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world." » | Tom Phillips, Shanghai | Saturday, March 22, 2014