Human Rights: Freedom of Expression

& Press Freedom

Thesis

Freedom of expression, though "guaranteed" by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is only nominal, for the fair and safe access to media in both developing and developed countries is denied to those whose opinions do not conform to the voices of the mainstream through the use of persecution.

Money, Money, Money

Soft censorship (indirect censorship): the practice of influencing news coverage by applying financial pressure on media groups.

Albania (carrot-and-stick method)

- Carrot: long-term government support through advertising campaign funds- Stick: harassment, delinquent tax bills, fines, etc.

Soft Censorship

Soft Censorship

Argentina (Kirchner government involvement)

- Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner & populist party- Taking away broadcast license- Promoting antagonism against journalists- Grant freedom to people who attack media groups (e.g. attack news rooms)- Politically involved people to license and regulate contents of papers

Soft Censorship

Kenya & Rwanda- Unexplained advertisement cancellation

Illicit Activities

Dirty and dangerous!

Russia – Anna Politkovskaya

Bolivia – Alfredo Alexander

Sri Lanka, Mexico, India, etc.

Murder Anna Politkovskaya

- Russian journalist, author, human rights activist- Covering Moscow’s war in Chechnya: violent crimes, kidnapping, torture by Russian soldiers- Killed by contract killers (acquitted)

And Murder

Alfredo Alexander

- Bolivian publisher- Delivered a bomb by an unknown messenger- His wife and he were both killed in the explosion

And Murder

Paranirupasingham Devakumar

- Sri Lankan correspondent (TV) - Stabbed to death by Tamil Tiger supporters - Reported articles critical of the rebel group when warned not to - The same group also killed his friend Mahendran Warden

Valentín Valdés Espinosa

- Mexican journalist - Abducted, tortured, and killed by an organized criminal group- Covered a story about the group and identified the leader of the group

And Murder

Vikas Ranjan

- Indian print reporter- Threatened and eventually shot – Wrote reports on topics that sparked controversies (e.g. counterfeit merchandise and trafficking of stolen products)

And More Murder to Come!

Salman Rushdie

- British-Indian writer of The Satanic Verses (Banned in 12 countries)

- Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, ordering death sentence- Bounty offered- Translators and publishers were also murdered/attacked

So What? Media groups are forced to bite back their criticism to remain in business

Newspapers self-censor

Journalists give up on reporting the truth

No one can get news about crimes committed by authoritative figures (e.g. politicians)

No freedom of expression or press freedom

Objection: Freedom As Weapon

Freedom of expression can be a weapon!

International Burn a Qur’an Day

- Pastor Terry Jones in Gainesville, Florida- Burn Qur’ans to commemorate 9/11- Death threats against the pastor & peaceful protests in India- A threat of war against America- Indonesian protest outside of the US embassy- Violent demonstrations

Freedom As a Weapon

Neo-Nazi March in Skokie, Illinois

- National Socialist Party proposed a march- Skokie inhabitants are mostly Jewish Holocaust survivors- Jewish citizens were intimidated

Freedom As a Weapon

R. v. Keegstra

- Alberta teacher- Teaching that Holocaust never happened- Claimed freedom of expression- Violating the Criminal Code of Canada – promoting hatred against a group

Freedom As a Weapon The march and the Qur’an day didn’t happen, and Keegstra lost the case

Necessary to infringe on certain rights

Sometimes, restrictions are necessary

Counter-objection: Legality

Yes, but freedom of expression cases must be dealt on a case-by-case basis

There are already laws (e.g. Canadian Charter) that limit freedom of expression

Persecuting innocent journalists can’t be the same as stopping people who clearly violate constitutions

Objection: Internet

People don’t need access to newspapers

YouTube, Twitter, many social network sites allow people to say what they want

Forums might censor, but the censorship online is minimal

Counter-objection: Blogfather Case

Hoder (Hossein Derakhshan)

Iranian-Canadian blogger

Blogging advocacy, visiting Israel and Iran

Arrested in Iran during a visit

Counter-objection: Blogfather Case

Sentenced to 19.5 years in Iranian prison

Canadian government is trying to get him extradited

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship

Internet Censorship Even the Internet is not a safe place

UDHR isn’t helping Hoder’s case

Governments can find out what goes on the Internet if they want

Solutions Independent media to push for legislation to make advertisement contract

Advocacy and pressure to form enforceable laws

Citizen awareness to put pressure on governments

Conclusion UDHR, being a treaty, not a bill, is not legally binding

Many nations don’t recognize freedom of expression as a fundamental right under their constitution

Safe access to media cannot be guaranteed to those whose opinions are not in agreement with those of the mainstream

Hope lies in implementation of solutions

Quiz Questions!1. What is soft censorship?

a)The practice of influencing news coverage by applying financial pressure on media groups

b)Governments hiring killers to “remove” journalists

c)Negotiating with media groups to only publish articles that will benefit the government

d)All of the above

e)None of the above

2. What did Anna Politkovskaya do and what happened to her?

a)She held a national protest against the Russian government, and she got an award for it

b)She wrote articles about Moscow’s war against Chechnya, and she was killed by contract killers

c)She was then-president Putin’s secretary, and she was fired because she disagreed with Putin’s policies

d)She was a Russian spy in the US, and she was extradited

e)None of the above

3. What did the Jewish community assert when the National Socialist Party proposed a Neo-Nazi march in the town of Skokie, Illinois?

a)It remained quiet

b)It proposed a march against the Neo-Nazis

c)It claimed its freedom from intimidation

d)It decided to sue the National Socialist Party

e)None of the above

Discussion Questions

Do you think censorship is necessary? If so, when? If not, why not?

The Obama administration recently announced its plans to create Internet ID for all Americans. What are the advantages and disadvantage of this plan?

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Thank you!