Freedom of expression is a dangerous term these days. Being committed to its cause can get you killed, like the 'Charlie Hebdo' cartoonists. Or, you could be hounded so viciously you might even announce your own death as a writer, like Perumal Murugan. And you can be forced to go underground, like the bold woman editor of an Urdu newspaper. The list is growing alarmingly every week.

But there's been a passionate counter to this narrative, too. Many insist that all freedoms are relative and they must be enjoyed with restraint and responsibility, especially in matters of faith.

Which is why there couldn't have been a better topic than "Should freedom of expression be an absolute right?" for The Times of India's annual debate, Converse. And which is why the city's best and brightest turned up Friday evening at the Tollygunge Club to hear some of the wittiest and sharpest minds in the country lock horns and trade jibes on the subject and perhaps clear the noise in their own heads.

The weather was almost made to order. And the setting an expansive 40 foot by 24 foot stage with seductive profile lights was perfect for, as Anil Mukerji, the club's CEO said in his welcome note, some "robust cerebral jousting".

It all began with Bhushan's opening remark, "I don't hold the position that freedom of speech is an absolute right. And that there should not be any restriction on it whatsoever. But I do believe that freedom of speech and the right to free speech is the most important right that the Constitution gives us and that right is absolutely essential for the survival of any healthy democracy." He pointed out that the Constitution says there can be "reasonable restrictions" on this right on grounds of security of the state, public order, friendly relations with foreign states, contempt of court, defamation and morality. The core of his argument was: "Free speech can only be gagged if there is incitement to violence or public disorder.

And under no other circumstances can it be a gag even if it is defamatory, or even if it is offensive." The opposition, however, latched on to his opening remark to underline the inconsistency of his position. Mitra quipped, "I thought you should be sitting on this side." And Akbar had everyone in splits saying, "How can I interject when I agree with him completely?" What followed was a perfect demonstration of how a serious topic needn't be hostage to seriousness. Everyone was in splits when Karkaria referred to Modi's infamous suit as "a pinstriped selfie" and said cocky BJP politicos were getting "mufflered". On a more serious note, she pointed out that many communities throughout history Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, women, homosexuals had been victimized because people had used absolute freedom of speech to incite mob frenzy against them. Referring to the Holocaust, Karkaria said Jews ended up in the gas chamber because Goebbels was allowed to spew poison with his propaganda. "There is always a thin line between perfect and legitimate freedom of speech and its abuse by those who wish to assert their powers. All civilized and sophisticated discourse is about thin lines. Thick line are only for thick people," she concluded.

Bhushan's interjection was, the right to speech must be protected as long as there is no clear incitement to violence or public disorder, even if it is something which may sound grossly offensive to somebody else. "Otherwise, you are on that slippery slope where every kind of attempt to reform or to challenge the orthodoxy is going to be gagged," he said.

The stage was set for Tewari's insightful and measured presentation. He said, rather unambiguously, that freedom of expression should be an absolute right. "Freedom is indivisible. The moment you splice it up, it ceases to be free," he said. The Congress leader quoted John Milton, referred to US Congress' first amendment, the Indian Constitution and the European human rights convention to explain that as history progressed, mankind has become repressive rather than progressive on the issue of freedom of speech. He said this freedom must include the right to offend. "You can have a quarrel with `Charlie Hebdo' but that does not mean you go and massacre them. That is not a remedy against a perceived or real offence ... Religion possibly requires the most rigorous debate and the most scrutiny in our society."

Tewari recalled his days as the Union minister of information and broadcasting, when he wres tled with the problem of drawing lines. "If I decide to draw the line right here, there may be a religious bigot who would decide to draw it more to the right.

The thick lines and the thin lines that Bachi was talking about are very subjective. The best thing to do is have no lines," he said.

The rest is here:

TOI debate on freedom of speech wows Kolkata

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Denmark's Prime Minister calls the deadly shooting on a cultural centre a terrorist attack and says the country is on high alert.

A gunman on Saturday fired shots into a Copenhagen cafe that was hosting a public event on freedom of speech, featuring a Swedish artist who had received death threats for a 2007 cartoon he drew caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. The Danish police said that one man, age 40, had been killed and three police officers wounded but that the gunman had been unable to enter the Krudttoenden cafe.

The Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, said on Saturday that the shooting had been a terrorist attack and that the nation was on high alert.

An image released by police of the suspected Copenhagen gunman.

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Shooting at Copenhagen free speech event attended by controversial artist

Danish police shot and killed a man early Sunday suspected of carrying out shooting attacks at a free speech event and then at a Copenhagen synagogue, killing a Danish documentary filmmaker and a member of the Scandinavian country's Jewish community. Five police officers were also wounded in the attacks.

Denmark has been hit by terror, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said. We do not know the motive for the alleged perpetrator's actions, but we know that there are forces that want to hurt Denmark. They want to rebuke our freedom of speech.

Jens Madsen, head of the Danish intelligence agency PET, said investigators believe the gunman was inspired by Islamic radicalism.

PET is working on a theory that the perpetrator could have been inspired by the events in Paris. He could also have been inspired by material sent out by (Islamic State) and others, Madsen said.

Islamic radicals carried out a massacre at the Charlie Hebdo newsroom in Paris last month, followed by an attack on Jews at a kosher grocery store, taking the lives of 17 victims.

At a news conference Madsen also said investigators have identified the suspect and that he is someone who had been on the agency's radar. He did not reveal his identity.

Later Sunday, at least two people with handcuffs were taken out by police from an Internet cafe in Copenhagen, Danish media reported. Police spokesman Steen Hansen told the Associated Press that the action was part of the police investigation but declined to give further details.

The Danish Film Institute said the 55-year-old man killed at the free speech event was documentary filmmaker Finn Noergaard.

The institute's chief Henrik Bo Nielsen said he was shocked and angry to find out Noergaard was gunned down while attending a discussion on art and free speech.

Noergaard directed and produced documentaries for Danish television, including the 2004 Boomerang Boy about an Australian boy's dreams to become a world boomerang champion and the 2008 Le Le about Vietnamese immigrants in Denmark.

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Shots fired at Copenhagen cafe free speech event, reports say

GORHAM Facebook and freedom of speech are at the center of a dispute between a resident and the towns police chief that now also involves the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire.

According to Robert Balon, his beef with Chief PJ Cyr goes back to 2009, when he raised questions about the departments shooting range, adding that while Cyr is often the subject of postings on his Welcome to Reality Facebook page, anyone who gets my tax dollars is fair game.

Cyr agrees that Balon can say anything about him in his official capacity, but he drew the line at his family, which he says has been maligned by Balon on several occasions.

On Feb. 17, in an attempt to stop Balon from posting further comments about his family, Cyr gave Balon a letter, written on the Gorham PDs letterhead and signed by Cyr as chief, in which Cyr wrote that Balons Facebook postings represented a course of conduct that evidences a continuity of purpose to annoy and alarm me and my family.

Pursuant to RSA 644:4(f), consider this letter official notice that I and my immediate family do not desire any further communication from you, Cyr wrote, adding that in a recent NH Supreme Court decision, a copy of which he also gave Balon, the court upheld the convictions in Rockingham County Superior Court of Brian Craig on charges of criminal threatening, witness tampering and stalking.

Craigs victim, who knew Craig only as a customer at the restaurant where she worked, complained to Exeter Police that Craig had sent two letters to her place of employment that had alarmed her. Exeter Police subsequently served Craig with a letter warning him that future stalking behavior would result in his being charged for that offense.

On that same day, Exeter Police served Craig with a no-trespass order at the victims employer and two days later, a temporary order was issued against Craig, which ordered him to have no contact with the victim. Nonetheless, Craig continued to post messages on his Facebook page directed to the victim, and he was subsequently arrested, tried and convicted.

Balon, although he acknowledges being one of Gorhams most outspoken gadflies, maintains that Cyr was not only wrong but way out of line to try to stop him from talking about the chief on Facebook.

On Feb. 18, Balon said Cyr provided no specific examples of the alleged improper postings, adding that unlike in State v. Craig, his postings have never been threatening, nor has he ever been served with a restraining order that barred all communication with Cyr.

Several hours after receiving Cyrs letter on Feb. 17, Balon sent emails to Gov. Maggie Hassan and the Attorney Generals Office, as well as to media outlets, claiming that Taxpayer paid Gorham NH Police Chief Paul S. Cyr Jr. is abusing his power, threatening, harassing, oppressing me, violating my rights and putting me in harms way by desiring/ demanding in writing that he does not want any further communication from me, etc.Balon wondered How can this take place when he works for me as a taxpayer-paid employee in the town of Gorham N.H. in which I live!?

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Facebook and freedom of speech subject of dispute between citizen and police chief

MEDIA STATEMENT

10 March 2015

Waikato-Tainui: Protect Our Customary Practises And Freedom of Speech

Waikato-Tainui is expressing its disappointment at Maori Televisions decision to remove the haka performance of Te Iti Kahurangi at Te Matatini from online viewing.

Te Arataura o Waikato-Tainui chairman Rahui Papa said that while Maori Television had since reversed that decision, the matter had served as a reminder to protect not only the right to freedom of speech but also the age-old Maaori customary practise to openly discuss and debate issues.

What happened today in censoring Te Iti Kahurangi not only impinged on the right to freedom of speech but did not align with an important tikanga that has been practised for generations, said Mr Papa.

Speaking our minds openly is an integral part of Maaori custom and the kapa haka stage is an acknowledged cultural forum for the expression of views and opinions on issues that affect us all, said Mr Papa.

We do not support censorship of that practise in any form and on any platform, said Mr Papa.

Mr Papa said the issue had been robustly discussed and debated at todays poukai at Oowairaka Marae, one of the home marae of kapa haka group Mootai-Tangata-Rau, with speakers endorsing the right of Te Iti Kahurangi to freedom of speech and expressing concern at the decision Maori Television had taken.

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Protect Our Customary Practises And Freedom of Speech

"We are not being allowed to practice freedom of speech and freedom of association. If you do, you end up in prison. There can be torture until you can die.

KOTA KINABALU: UK-based Borneo rights activist Doris Jones, 46, who heads the Sabah Sarawak Union UK, told BBC News Radio Northampton on Friday that she doesnt understand why Malaysia doesnt want to allow Sabah and Sarawak to go from the list of states in the Federation, so that they can stand on their own two feet. Its a big question.

BBC claimed that Jones was leading the campaign in the UK for independence back home on behalf of some people in Sabah and Sarawak. The station did not elaborate.

If they dont let us go, then we have the right to go independent, said Jones who manages the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) Page on Facebook. We are countries which can be on our own like Singapore and Brunei. We are entitled to stand on our own two feet.

She was being interviewed, on repression of human rights and free speech in Borneo, on the eve of a peaceful protest outside the Malaysian High Commission in London. She explained the difficulties of running a campaign at home from the other side of the world.

We are not being allowed to practice freedom of speech and freedom of association. If you do, you end up in prison. There can be torture until you can die.

The rights activist also stressed that Interpol is not after her as made out by the Malaysian Government in the local media but conceded that she may be arrested under the Sedition Act if she returns home. Her family has not been in contact with her since their mobile phones have allegedly been taken away.

I am not stopping the campaign because of their intimidation. Its their way of doing things. Its not that I dont love my family.

SSKM have between 200 and 300 volunteers in Sabah. About 14 of them have since been hauled up but released and may face unspecified charges. Five of them were arrested at a petrol station. They had nothing on them. The first group had only pen and paper with them for people to sign a Petition, said Jones. The goal of this campaign is for us to stand on our own feet.

Jones, who has been abroad the last two decades and led a campaign for the past five years for independence, told the radio station that she was about ten years old when she realised that something was not right about Sabah and Sarawak being in a Federation with the peninsula. We were not allowed to say anything, she said. Racism, discrimination. Theres no democracy.

Link:

Doris Jones vows to free Sabah, Sarawak

Published February 15, 2015

Dansh Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt pays respects Sunday Feb. 15, 2015, at the Copenhagen Synagogue for the victims for the Saturday nights shootings in Copenhagen. Danish police shot and killed a man early Sunday suspected of carrying out shooting attacks at a free speech event and then at a Copenhagen synagogue, killing two men, including a member of Denmark's Jewish community. Five police officers were also wounded in the attacks. (AP Photo / Thomas Borberg, Polfoto) DENMARK OUT(The Associated Press)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Abir Sultan)(The Associated Press)

Police working at the scene where police shot and killed the alleged shooter in Copenhagen. Shooting took place early Sunday morning close to Noerrebro commuter station. Danish police shot and killed a man early Sunday suspected of carrying out shooting attacks at a free speech event and then at a Copenhagen synagogue, killing two men, including a member of Denmark's Jewish community. Five police officers were also wounded in the attacks. (AP Photo / Jens Dresling, Polfoto) DENMARK OUT(The Associated Press)

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt in front of the Synagogue in Copehagen, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. A man opened fire Saturday killing a Danish documentary filmmaker and a member of the Scandinavian countrys Jewish community and wounding five police officers in the attacks. (AP Photo/Polfoto, Jens Dresling) DENMARK OUT(The Associated Press)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark Public figures across Europe and beyond on Sunday condemned the attack by an unidentified gunman against a free speech event and a synagogue in Copenhagen that left three people dead, including the suspected perpetrator. Investigators in the Danish capital say the gunman could have been inspired by the terror attacks in Paris last month, in which three Islamic radicals killed 17 people at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, a kosher grocery store and elsewhere.

Here's a look at some of the reactions to the events in Copenhagen:

"Denmark has been hit by terror."

"As a nation we have experienced a few hours that we will never forget. We have tasted the nasty taste of fear and powerlessness that the terrorists want us to taste."

"We do not know the motive for the alleged perpetrator's actions, but we know that there are forces that want to hurt Denmark. They want to rebuke our freedom of speech." - Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

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World leaders denounce Copenhagen shootings as attack on freedom of speech, offer condolences