The myth of freedom of speech

Article 19 of the ICCPR states that “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference” and “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948, states that:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

This Article was often quoted to condemn the fatwa on Rushdie and justify the millions of pounds the British government spent protecting him. It was again echoed throughout Europe after the Danish cartoon controversy and more recently to justify the anti-Islam marches taking place in cities across the UK, by the English Defence League.

However recent events have shown the very ‘defenders’ of freedom of speech have now become the suppressors of this universal human right.

Last week, at the request of Ofcom, the media watchdog deciding what Britons can and can’t watch, BSKYB removed Press TV, a 24-hour news channel, from it’s platform. Despite the official explanation, the true motives behind the ban are crystal clear, to prevent an alternative view from reaching the British people. Unlike other British news channels, Press TV broadcasts a wide range of views without censorship, and it is for this reason that even Zionists have publicly condemned the ban.

Thanks to Wikileaks, leaked cables prove that the British government was hunting for excuses to limit the operations of Press TV in 2010;

“HMG (Her Majesty's Government) is exploring ways to limit the operations of the IRIB’s PRESS TV service, which operates a large bureau (over 80 staff) in London. However, UK law sets a very high standard for denying licenses to broadcasters. Licenses can only be denied in cases where national security is threatened, or if granting a license would be contrary to Britain’s obligations under international law. Currently, neither of these standards can be met with respect to PRESS TV, but if further sanctions are imposed on Iran in the coming months, a case may be able to be made on the second criterion.”

“In the immediate term, HMG plans to lobby the French government to approach Eutelsat and press it to drop IRIB broadcasts from the Hotbird satellite.”

This is an overt attack on the freedom of press, and contradicts self-righteous claims that Britain allows the free flow of information. This ban should be condemned by all journalists to ensure that this media war does not form a prelude to a military war.
© Islam Times