INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

International Human Rights

'International Human Rights'

Introduction

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on freedom of opinion and expression includes the words: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right shall include those who hold opinions and have no fear and anxiety on information and ideas on publishing it; and all the devices may be released without boundary considerations. Freedom of expression and freedom associated with it, such as press freedom or freedom of assembly mark the clear boundaries between systematic democracies and the administrations that are considered authoritarian. However, Article 19 on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is:"no one should attack the beliefs of others. It is increasingly important to consider whether exercising journalistic rights come in confrontation with the sensibilities of any particular community, and reporters must consider the repercussion that their work might result in, especially in the case of international publication of any news item.

Paragraph 2 of this article is about free speech.

Everyone has the right to free speech. This right includes freedom to investigate and study and disseminate information and ideas regardless of frontiers, whether verbally or written, or printed or artistic form or by any means.

The Cartoon Controversy

An event that occurred about three years ago in the area of freedom of expression and gave birth to most important human rights issues were the published controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005. The cartoons were later re-published in January 2006 in Austria and then in early February 2006 in several other European publications, including France, Italy and Spain. That led to vast Muslim protest around the world with the protests sometimes turning into violence. Also the relationships of many European countries, with Muslim countries became strained.

Contrary to freedom of opinion, freedom of speech issue has some liabilities and obligations and restrictions have to be observed. According to paragraph 3 of Article 19 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights "exercise of the rights mentioned in paragraph 2 of this article requires certain duties and responsibilities, and therefore may be subject to certain limitations stipulated in the law and are necessary for the following matters:

respecting the rights or reputations of others;

maintaining security or public order or public health or morals

Similar restrictive conditions for freedom of expression in paragraph 2 of Article 13, American Convention on Human Rights and Article 10 paragraph 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights have been predicted.

The publication of the cartoons led to a massive outcry especially amongst the Muslims residing in Denmark. The publication in September 2005, in the Copenhagen newspaper drawings, depicted the prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban, sparked protests, and by February of next year, riots and violence erupted throughout the Middle East. In response, the Western media and human rights organizations were quick to speak out in defense of freedom of speech from the threat of ...