freedom of speech - Page 13

Criminal ‘Hate Speech’ Case Opens Against Spanish Cardinal

On Tuesday, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Valencia initiated criminal proceedings against the Archbishop of Valencia, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, who has been charged with inciting “hate crimes,” after the prelate spoke out in a homily against a reigning “gay empire,” criticized radical feminist groups, and decried Europe’s open-door policy toward migrants.

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares

Power, Obedience, and the End of American Debate

Freedom of speech is very inconvenient to the ruling class, which likes to set the acceptable boundaries of discourse. For that reason, the populace is likely to lose free speech as soon as they stop insisting on it, without qualification or reservation — and once free speech is gone, all else is put at risk.

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, face off with proteste

PEGIDA Leader Summoned To Court On Hate Speech Charges

The founder of Germany’s xenophobic and anti-Islam group PEGIDA has been summoned to court on hate speech charges for describing refugees as “cattle” and “scum”, a court in Dresden said. Lutz Bachmann, 43, was charged with inciting hatred in October

PEGIDA Leader

France’s Criminalisation of Israel Boycotts Sparks Free-Speech Debate

France’s prime minister has criticised boycotts of Israeli products, saying they fuel anti-Semitic sentiment. But critics say using France’s strict laws against “inciting discrimination” to criminalise the boycotts violates free speech. Addressing a meeting of the Crif, the umbrella group

A tourist photographs a sign painted on a wall in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem

Hundreds of Yale Students Protest Alleged Racism on Campus

A twisted string of allegations about racism on the campus of Yale University led hundreds of students to protest Monday, just days after a conference on the future of free speech was disrupted by allegations of racism and two weeks after protests against alleged racism and cultural insensitivity were held over student Halloween costumes.

Ryan Flynn/New Haven Register via AP

Former Legislator: Ban Political Ads from Canadian TV, Radio

A former Canadian Liberal legislator is calling for a permanent ban on political television and radio ads in Canada, citing the status quo of restrictions on political messaging in Britain as his model. In Britain, John Milloy says, “major political parties” are each apportioned an equal amount of time by on government-licensed television stations to make their pitches.

AFP PHOTO / POOL / MARK BLINCH

Oregon Official Silences Christian Cake Bakers Who’re Accused of ‘Mental Rape’ by Gay Couple

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian upheld a preliminary finding that sentenced Aaron and Melissa Klein, the Christian bakers who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, to a fine of $135,000 in emotional damages to the homosexual couple they denied service, but also added a new provision forbidding them to speak about their unwillingness to serve a gay marriage.

Everton Bailey Jr./The Oregonian via AP

‘Anonymous’ Claims Responsibility for Cyber Attack on Canadian Government

Websites run by the Canadian government were attacked on Wednesday, causing widespread service interruptions. The “Anonymous” hacker collective claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a protest against the recent passage of a controversial anti-terrorism bill, which the hackers denounced as “a clear violation of the universal declaration of human rights.”

REUTERS/YVES HERMAN

In Defense of Independent Speech

In the five years since the Supreme Court decided Citizens United vs. F.E.C.,  liberal special interests have attempted to silence independent speech and the voices of non-profit organizations. Their radical agenda has been embraced by President Obama and Democrats in

AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Scott Sommerdorf

Partners in Peace: Executions in Iran Are Surging

Executions are rising sharply in Iran, reaching a 12-year high in 2014, according to the United Nations’s Human Rights Council. The UN called this “deeply troubling” and further criticized Iran for not living up to promises that it would protect ethnic and religious minorities, according to a report at Voice of America News.

REUTERS/FRANCOIS LENOIR

Ban on Campus Hate Preachers Vetoed By Lib Dems

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has vetoed plans to ban extremist preachers from university campuses citing concerns that doing so would erode free speech. He put his foot down, blocking the Tory plans, after what has been described as

Nick Clegg confused

Turkey Forces Company to Fire Cleaning Lady For Anti-President Facebook Post

The persecution of individuals speaking ill of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues, as more stories surface of people silenced or punished for disagreeing with the president. In an incident this week, a young cleaning lady in a private firm was fired after allegedly posting insults against Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Facebook.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers at the parliament in Ankar