Human Rights: Freedom of Expression & Press Freedom

1. Human Rights: Freedom of Expression & Press Freedom

2. 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.

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

4. Soft Censorship • Albania (carrot-and-stick method) • - Carrot: long-term government support through advertising campaign funds • - Stick: harassment, delinquent tax bills, fines, etc.

5. 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

6. Soft Censorship • Kenya & Rwanda • - Unexplained advertisement cancellation

7. Illicit Activities • Dirty and dangerous! • Russia – Anna Politkovskaya • Bolivia – Alfredo Alexander • Sri Lanka, Mexico, India, etc.

8. 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)

9. And Murder • Alfredo Alexander • Bolivian publisher • Delivered a bomb by an unknown messenger • His wife and he were both killed in the explosion

10. 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

11. And Murder • 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 • 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)

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Counter-objection: Blogfather Case • Hoder (Hossein Derakhshan) • Iranian-Canadian blogger • Blogging advocacy, visiting Israel and Iran • Arrested in Iran during a visit

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Quiz Questions! • 2. What did Anna Politkovskaya do and what happened to her? • She held a national protest against the Russian government, and she got an award for it • She wrote articles about Moscow’s war against Chechnya, and she was killed by contract killers • She was then-president Putin’s secretary, and she was fired because she disagreed with Putin’s policies • She was a Russian spy in the US, and she was extradited • None of the above • 1. What is soft censorship? • The practice of influencing news coverage by applying financial pressure on media groups • Governments hiring killers to “remove” journalists • Negotiating with media groups to only publish articles that will benefit the government • All of the above • 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? • It remained quiet • It proposed a march against the Neo-Nazis • It claimed its freedom from intimidation • It decided to sue the National Socialist Party • None of the above

26. 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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28. Thank you!