Category Archives: Free Speech

ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- A free speech group Monday condemned the Turkish government's attempts to tamp down on journalists who are critical of public officials.

Freedom House released a report detailing instances in which journalists have been intimidated or fired as a result of publishing critical reports about the government. The situation has worsened since a large corruption scandal was publicized in December, the group said.

Today's Zaman said the report shows clearly the lengths to which government officials will go to stifle dissent, including strong-arm tactics, eavesdropping and bribery.

"The crisis in Turkey's democracy is not a future problem," said David J. Kramer, president of Freedom House and a co-author of the report. "The media face tremendous pressure from the government, and the government now has widened its attacks to other institutions."

Kramer said the tactics put at risk Turkey's desire to join the European Union and the country's longstanding alliance with the United States.

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Report: Turkish gov't clamping down on reporters

National

Aims for "almost total free speech": New human rights commissioner Tim Wilson. Photo: Justin McManus

The Australian Human Rights Commission should not always be ''singing from the same song sheet'' but include diverse opinions on issues such as free speech and racial slurs, incoming commissioner Tim Wilson says.

Mr Wilson told the Liberal Democratic Party conference in Sydney on Sunday that he was looking forward to energising the commission and would be pushing for ''almost total free speech''.

The commission needed more diverse voices within it, the commissioner-designate said.

''What we shouldn't have is the commission always singing from the same song sheet. Sometimes differences of opinion can add value and build the integrity of the commission,'' he said.

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Federal Attorney-General George Brandis has directed the Australian Law Reform Commission to investigate laws that unnecessarily encroach on traditional rights and freedoms.

''Clearly one of the first debates we will have is on free speech, and particularly the sensitive area of the Racial Discrimination Act,'' Mr Wilson said.

The act set the bar far too low in restricting speech, he said. ''The limits should only be to the extent that speech conflicts with other human rights, notably when speech explicitly incites and provokes violence against others.''

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Tim Wilson: Wilson: 'total free speech' needed for Human Rights Commission

Free Speech PSA - MLK Fair Use
PBS aired the documentary "Eyes on the Prize" on US TV in 1987, earning 23 honours, including two Peabody Awards, and receiving such praise as: "The principa...

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Free Speech PSA - MLK & Fair Use - Video

ALEX JONES.11/20/2013..Free Speech Restricted at the JFK 50th Memorial
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ALEX JONES.11/20/2013..Free Speech Restricted at the JFK 50th Memorial - Video

God Prophets should be protected from insult | IQ2 Debate | Uthman Badar
Uthman Badar #39;s opening statement in the Intelligence Squared Australia debate on free speech and insults of religious sanctities, held on Nov 7 2013 at the R...

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God & Prophets should be protected from insult | IQ2 Debate | Uthman Badar - Video

Mitch McConnell: Proposed IRS Regs Would Squash Free Speech
McConnell: Proposed IRS Regs Would Squash Free Speech January 30, 2014 http://www.FreeBeacon.com.

By: Washington Free Beacon

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Mitch McConnell: Proposed IRS Regs Would Squash Free Speech - Video

Christopher Hitchens - Free Speech
In Defense of Freedom of Speech - Christopher Hitchens.

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Christopher Hitchens - Free Speech - Video

Shermans right to free speech
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Shermans right to free speech - Video

The Beer Barrel - Free Speech Community For Even The Most Radical Ideologue
http://thebeerbarrel.net/ WE AT THE FREE SPEECH FORUM http://WWW.THEBEERBARREL.NET/ LOVE OURSELVES SOME FREE SPEECH. WE COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES, A...

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The Beer Barrel - Free Speech Community For Even The Most Radical Ideologue - Video

Suspicious language in a statement from the Board of Education that appeared to restrict free speech rights is now under review after The Darien Times brought this concern to the school board.

The statement, delivered by board Chairman Betsy Hagerty-Ross on at least one occasion, restricted speakers from discussing their children at board meetings. After telling the audience that the board would not engage in dialogue with speakers, Hagerty-Ross said that any comments of a personal nature about your student, staff, or board member will not be permitted.

This statement is troublesome to experts of the First Amendment, the clause in the U.S. Bill of Rights that establishes free speech as a cornerstone of the democratic process. Rose Cavanagh, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, said Hagerty-Rosss statement seemed overbroad to prohibit parents to speak about their children.

Given the controversy surrounding the schools actions of late with regards to students rights, it may be more prudent for the Board of Education to allow parents to express the students perspectives, Cavanagh told The Darien Times.

The Board of Education has taken unprecedented and expensive steps to fix an assortment of legal problems with its special education programming.

Problems included a lack of communication with parents from the school board and administration. Part of the districts mitigation effort has been the addition of a public comment section during school board meetings.

Top 10 of 2013: No. 1 Special education

Communication woes run deeper than special ed

School board critics and supporters alike have lauded this effort. However, the directive to restrict parents has some concerned.

Ken Paulson, a lawyer and president of the First Amendment Center, said that this restriction would also prevent parents from sharing good news about their children.

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Darien school board restricts free speech, later rescinds