Category Archives: Freedom of Speech

The Deutsche Welle Governing Board decided unanimously in favor of Raif Badawi, said Deutsche Welle Director General Peter Limbourg.

"He stands, in an exemplary way, for the brave and fearless commitment to the human right of freedom of expression. Our award sends a signal and contributes to bringing his fate into the public spotlight. We hope this will increase pressure on those responsible in Saudi Arabia to release Badawi."

Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar told DW she was overjoyed. From her home in Canada, she said the DW Freedom of Speech Award sends a clear message to the Saudi regime. "It is a disgrace that Raif is still sitting in prison - especially at a time when Saudi Arabia fights against the Islamic State group and its disregard for human rights. I am extremely thankful to Deutsche Welle for its support."

Ten years in jail, 1,000 lashes

The 31-year-old blogger was sentenced by Saudi authorities in May 2014 to 1,000 lashes, 10 years in prison and a major fine. The first 50 lashes were administered in public on January 9. He was meant to receive 50 lashes every Friday from then on, but the public flogging has been postponed more than once, reportedly for health reasons.

DW presented the Freedom of Speech award for the first time this year, in the framework of the 11th annual competition of " The Bobs Best of Online Activism," commending outstanding online activists and projects.

The winner of the Freedom of Speech Award as well as the winners of The Bobs' three jury categories will be recognized on June 23 at the Global Media Forum in Bonn, Germany.

Courageous advocate for the freedom of expression

Raif Badawi has been fighting for the freedom of expression in his country for many years. On the Free Saudi Liberals website, he attacked political and social grievances in Saudi Arabia. He published sarcastic articles on the religious police, called a prominent Saudi university a den of terrorists and wrote about Valentine's Day, which is strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia.

In 2008, Badawi was arrested for the first time for allegedly creating an "electronic site" that "insults Islam." He left the country for a few months, only to return when the charges were dropped. In 2009, the Saudi government imposed a travel ban, and on June 17, 2012, Badawi was arrested again and put on trial, accused of insulting Muslim religious leaders on his website

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DW Freedom of Speech Award for Raif Badawi

By JULIUS KAIREY

If Israel were an Arab country, it would receive near-universal praise as a paragon of justice. Its robust protections of freedom of speech, along with frequent and open elections, would make it the only Arab state in which people have a real say in the operation of their government. Israel would be celebrated as the only gay-friendly state in a region of rampant anti-gay persecution. Its strict prohibition of the traditional practice of honor killings where women accused of disgracing the family name are murdered by their male relatives would be lauded as proof of its progressive and egalitarian values. And its modern capitalist economy, driven by a dynamic high-tech sector, would be the model for other Arab nations seeking to lift their people from the depths of poverty.

Of course, Israel isnt an Arab nation, and it is treated according to this double-standard. It is the worlds only majority-Jewish state, and it is surrounded by Arab theocracies, dictatorships and monarchies, each of which have gone to war in a failed bid to end its existence. And yet, Israels remarkable history of repeated triumph in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity receives little sympathy among some left-wing segments of communities across the nation.

While Israels actions are put under a microscope its every flaw magnified to the maximum possible extent its enemies are given a free pass.

It is not immediately obvious why this is so. Israels history reads like a liberal success story. The Jewish people have refused to consent to their exile from the land of Israel, perpetrated by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. Rather than submit to oppression and injustice, Jews returned home over the centuries. In the 19th century, this movement for national liberation, called Zionism, sought to establish a modern state in the Jewish national homeland. This place would be a refuge from the forces of bigotry and hatred a place where Jews from around the world could gather for collective security whenever their lives or livelihoods came under threat. To this day, thousands of Jews migrate to Israel annually most recently from France for safety from the resurgence of anti-Semitism.

But you will not hear any of this from Israels detractors. They subject Israel to a constant torrent of demonization, all while applying a moral standard on Israel that is applied to no other country on Earth. Zionism is equated with racism and Israel is called a terrorist state, even the moral equivalent of apartheid South Africa, a country that maintained a total and systematic separation between Whites and non-Whites. These accusations continue in total disregard of the fact that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Jews and Arabs live alongside one another in substantial numbers, vote in the same elections and serve together in the same national legislature.

While Israels actions are put under a microscope its every flaw magnified to the maximum possible extent its enemies are given a free pass. Hamas brazenly indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli cities which even the Palestinian Authority has called war crimes are either encouraged as necessary for resistance, or dismissed as insignificant. Hamas genocidal charter, which calls not just for the destruction of Israel but for the murder of Jews worldwide, is attributed to a harmless overreaction to Israels non-existent occupation of the Gaza Strip, not to be taken seriously. Where else is the threat of genocide not to be taken seriously?

So why cant Israel get a fair hearing in certain segments of campus communities and elsewhere? It comes down to Israels character.

Israels first crime is that it is a Western nation. In the minds of Israels critics, to be Western is to be suspect, especially when your country is juxtaposed with non-Western nations. Israeli actions are confused with colonialism by those who erroneously insist that, to this day, imperialism drives relations between Western and non-Western peoples. To attack Israel is to give non-Westerners a leg up in these supposedly colonial interactions.

Israels second offense is that it is pro-American. It is little surprise that Israels fiercest opponents are also militant critics of the United States. They deride Americas invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq as modern-day imperialism and look forward to a day when America will be forced to relinquish its superpower status. Because Israel and America have such strong links, Israel is tarred as a mere instrument of Americas supposedly nefarious interests abroad. Bashing Israel is just their way of expressing contempt for the policies of the United States, and as such serves as an outlet for virulent anti-Americanism. They treat the Jewish State as America in the Middle East.

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THROWDOWN THURSDAY: The Four Causes of Anti-Israelism

GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Exposed - Atheists Are Liars Compilation (Part 1#)
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GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Exposed - Atheists Are Liars Compilation (Part 1#) - Video

GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Hate Crimes - Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying
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GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Hate Crimes - Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying - Video

GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Aliens Vs Bigfoot Vs Giant T-Rex Chicken Vs Rat Ape
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GodTVRadio Show - Freedom of Speech - Aliens Vs Bigfoot Vs Giant T-Rex Chicken Vs Rat Ape - Video

Should there be limitations on freedom of speech?
This video is about My Movie 1.

By: The Volante

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Should there be limitations on freedom of speech? - Video

Topic Tuesday #39 - Freedom of Speech? (Minecraft Survival Games Gameplay)
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By: MeBashButtons

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Topic Tuesday #39 - Freedom of Speech? (Minecraft Survival Games Gameplay) - Video

NO surprises that the thorny subject of sectarian singing should prompt a major backlash on yesterdays Hotline.

After Keith Jacksons column savaged both sides of the Old Firm support with a particularly fierce blast at Rangers for their songs of hate at Starks Park the outraged Whataboutery defence was as predictable as it was depressing.

Chris Lowe, Glasgow, emailed: So Rangers get a kicking once again from the media.

Compare and contrast to Celtic Park only 24 hours earlier where clear, audible pro-IRA chants were heard, something Celtic have been fined for in the past by UEFA .

The Celtic support were largely praised all round for creating a magnificent atmosphere and not one person reported what their fans were chanting let alone go seeking the match observer to ask if he would be including it in his report.

Whatever happened to the whole of Europe claiming freedom of speech and the right to offend after Paris? Are Rangers fans exempt?

RAITH ROVERS 1 RANGERS 2 - VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

Robert Forrest emailed: I have no problem with Keith Jackson criticising Rangers fans singing banned songs, it is not right.

However, he fails to point out the difference in the way the support of either team has been treated by the authorities. A Rangers supporter was jailed for singing a banned song but no Celtic fan, and I could include their player Leigh Griffiths, has been anywhere near this.

He also completely ignores the offensive banner on display at Hampden.

Link:

Sports Hotline: What happened to freedom of speech - have Rangers fans lost their right to offend?

John Lennon - Classic Beatles quote (Freedom of speech)
John Lennon about the Jesus thing.

By: TheWarmcoldsurfer

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John Lennon - Classic Beatles quote (Freedom of speech) - Video

Esau uses Freedom of Speech as a weapon!
Watch as Priest of the Most High Lucifer D. Lambew talks about how "Freedom of Speech" is being used as a weapon to wage war on other nations and other religions. Blessed are all those who...

By: Sekuma08

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Esau uses Freedom of Speech as a weapon! - Video