Freedom of speech

1. A deep logical insight

2. INTRODUCTION

3. Construing Freedom of
Speech:
 The right to speak without censorship or
restraint by the government.
 Freedom of expression includes any act of
seeking, receiving and impairing information
of ideas regardless of the medium used.

4. Global recognition:
 Free speech is a globally recognized
human right and is protected and
recognized by the article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.

5. Historical account:
 Concept of freedom of speech can be found
in early human rights documents.
 Throughout the course of history great
people like Aristotle, Galileo and our own
Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa have laid their lives
for freedom of speech.

6. Diversity of Free
Speech:
 It is a multi-faced right that includes not only
the right to express or disseminate
information and ideas but three further
aspects:
i) The right to seek information and ideas.
ii) The right to receive information and ideas.
iii) The right to impair information and ideas.

7. HISTORY

8. HISTORY OF FREEDOM OF
SPEECH:
 Recognition As a Human Right:
Under article 19 of the “Universal Declaration Of Human Rights”
1948.
Declaration recognized in “International Human Rights Law”
in the “International Convention On Civil And Political Rights”

9. HISTORY OF FREEDOM OF
SPEECH:
Article 19 of ICCPR states that :
“everyone shall have the right to hold opinion without interference
and everyone shall have a right to freedom of expression”
 All this philosophical speculation prepared the way for the
educationalists who were known as the Sophists. They begin to
appear after the middle of the 5th century.

10. HISTORY OF FREEDOM OF
SPEECH:
 Athens Democratic Ideology of free speech emerged in late 6th
Century or early 5th century B.C.
 The values of “Roman Republic” includes freedom of speech
and freedom of religion.
 England’s Bill of Rights 1689 established constitutional right in
parliament.
 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens during
French Revolution in 1789, specifically affirmed freedom of
speech as an inalienable right.

11. HISTORY OF FREEDOM OF
SPEECH
Based on John Milton’s argument;
“freedom of speech is understood as a multi-
faceted right”
Three distinct aspects according to Milton’s arguments:
 the right to seek information and ideas;
 the right to receive information and ideas;
 the right to impart information and ideas

12. HISTORY OF FREEDOM OF
SPEECH:
The Right of Freedom of speech is also enshrined in:
 Article 10 of European Convention On Human Rights.
 Article 13 of American Convention On Human Rights.
 Article 9 of the African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights.

13. DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES

14. This presentation will discuss the following
important perspectives of free speech:
a. Freedom of speech at local level.
b. Freedom of speech at international level.
c. Mass media and it’s impacts.

15. LOCAL Perspective:
---- This perspective tells about scope of free
speech within a state.
---- Tells about limitations of free speech for
national security and public well being.

16. ----It also tends to give even opportunities to
“everyone” to show his viewpoint firmly
without hurting other’s views.

17. International Perspective:
---- Free speech at this level tends to analyze
it’s relation in different parts of the world
based on national interests, religious ideas
etc.
---- Like in Ireland, free speech is measured on
the basis of it’s harmless coexistence with
catholic beliefs.
It is also measured on the basis of religious
ideas in many middle east states.

18. MASS MEDIA:
---- The importance of mass media on both
international and local levels in the 21st century
cannot be negated at all.
---- Internet has now changed from providing mere
pastime activities to changing and mobilizing
minds.
---- Today’s micro blogging sites like twitter, face-
book, whatsapp etc have speeded up the rate of
mobility and awareness in people everywhere.

19. MODERN
ERA

20. Common perception:-
 In modern time, steps have been taken
to provide freedom of speech on national
as well as international levels in the
world.
 People feel proud to express freedom of
speech and use it very often.

21. Like in the following examples in US and India:-

22. Like in the following examples in US and India:-

23. In this presentation, our main focus will be on:
1. Sedition (criticism on the government).
2. Defamation (criticism on individuals).
3. Ridiculing general beliefs.
These rules were prescribed by
renaissance British lawyers like Cardozo.

24. Sedition:-
 Although sedition has been removed to a greater
extent, it still exists in countries like India,
Afghanistan and North Korea.
 No matter how impartial you are, you can never
speak in favor of Pakistan or about Kashmir.
 In North Korea, anyone can be killed by a single
order of the monarch and women are given little
or no access to education and decision making in
various areas of Afghanistan.

25.  Like freedom of speech was strictly banned
in JNU University on Kashmir held under
student activists.

26. 2. Defamation:-
 In older times, defamation was thought to
be something done against monarchs.
 Now-a-days defamation against aristocracy
is minimized to minimum because
monarchies are taken over by democracies.
 Nevertheless, there are still some powerful
monarchies in the world like North Korea.

27. 3. Ridiculing of general beliefs:-
 There was a great fear of religious values
and beliefs in medieval and old societies .
 Now-a-days due to the modern wave of
materialism, people are going away from
values created in thousands of years.

28. Such situations are creating difference of
opinions and cultural lag in societies which is
ultimately ending up in ending of moral
obligations worldwide.

29. LIMITATIONS

30. ---- When first
amendment was
added in the
American
constitution, things
took a new shape.
---- Like in the legend of
an old man who
poked his waving
stick into someone’s
nose.

33. Exceptions in freedom of
speech:
---- There is no place on earth where there are
no limitations to freedom of speech.
---- All the superpowers including US, Russia,
Britain etc never tolerate voices against
their policies .

35. So, What is Freedom of
Speech anyway???
---- Freedom of
speech is allowing
everyone to speak
his own ideas and
hailing
the good ones.

36. Mutual Respect:-
---- Mutual respect for different groups,
communities and members of opposite sex
are the integral components for peaceful
freedom of speech.
---- Anything against mutual respect will make
this world more disastrous, as for everyone,
his/her honor and ego is everything.

37. So, just respect your fellow
emotional being’s ideas and
live a happy life.