United Nations expert slams Israel over lack of freedom of expression

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

After a visit to Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Israel as part of a 12-day fact-finding mission by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Frank La Rue, the independent United Nations human-rights expert urged authorities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to lift restrictions to freedom of expression.

He stressed that these are curbing minority views and dissenting opinions, and they prevented journalists and human rights defenders from reporting on rights violations.

La Rue said: “Truly democratic societies are measured by their respect of human rights, and in particular the right to freedom of expression as a ‘facilitator’ of all other rights. Freedom of expression does not only include expression of views that are widely accepted by the majority of the population or reflect the government’s policies, but also minority views and dissenting opinions.”

He became the first independent UN expert charged with monitoring and reporting on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to make an official visit to the region. During his visit, he met with senior Government officials representatives of civil society, lawyers, human rights defenders, and journalists. From these meetings, he was able to find some problems with the current situation regarding journalists and human rights defenders in the region not being able to carry out their work. He expressed concern over the fact that there was a “trend of arbitrary arrests and overnight detention” of the journalists and defenders occurring and this causes “self-censorship”.

In Israel, there is also an individual appointed to the government's post of chief censor, who decides whether information gathered by journalists poses a threat to State security and if it can be published in the media. The problem that was found with this is that it was a body set up for the prior censorship of the press, and as La Rue said, it “should not exist in any country”.

Additonally, La Rue urged Israeli authorities to guarantee the right to freedom of expression to Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, who make up about 20% of the population, and Arab members of the Knesset, the country’s parliament.

Earlier this year, a controversial law was passed which made it a civil offence to call for an economic, cultural, or academic boycott of people or institutions in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) for political reasons. Anyone making such calls could face a lawsuit and other financial penalties. Additionally, the law also allows the finance minister to revoke the tax-exempt status of NGOs calling for a boycott, which threatens the funding on which many Israeli human rights NGOs rely. Companies or organizations participating in a boycott could also be disqualified from applying for government contracts.

These are just a few of the examples of the trend that La Rue was indicating about occurring in Israel. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure, the issue of freedom of expression is alive and kicking in Israel...not for the reasons it should be, but because it is being held hostage.

http://www.neurope.eu/article/un-expert-slams-israel-over-freedom-expression

[Danno 1,228]

Israel gets a pass on so many things,,,,, I mean what other respectable western country still has segregation?

But the truth is the USA is the only country where you can say objectionable things and be protected for the most part.

This recent story comes to mind.

This lady who seems to have "expressed" her dislike at the numbers of immigrants taking over her country and she wound up in jail (and is still there).... not for doing or threatening to do anything but rather rudely expressing her opinion.

The folks who lit london ablaze were treated with kids gloves while she spends the Holidays in jail away from her family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd8iYLvlQaM

[Golden Gate 530]

Israel gets a pass on so many things,,,,, I mean what other respectable western country still has segregation?

But the truth is the USA is the only country where you can say objectionable things and be protected for the most part.

This recent story comes to mind.

This lady who seems to have "expressed" her dislike at the numbers of immigrants taking over her country and she wound up in jail (and is still there).... not for doing or threatening to do anything but rather rudely expressing her opinion.

The folks who lit london ablaze were treated with kids gloves while she spends the Holidays in jail away from her family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd8iYLvlQaM

It sounds like she would be arrested for disturbing the peace or drunken and disorderly conduct.

[Danno 1,228]

It sounds like she would be arrested for disturbing the peace or drunken and disorderly conduct.

She might be deserving of that but those charges typically are no bail and release the next morning (at least in the USA).

Britain is notorious for public drunkeness, I doubt

If she were blabbering on about any other topic she would have been arrested, I have been to britain and have heard way worse drunken commotions on public transport... no one was arrested. (or even cared)

I seriously doubt people who do get arrested for such charges spend weeks in jail as apparently this women has by now.

Again it boils down to a clear example of how free speech is growing more scarce in Europe.... Israel is not alone.

[Golden Gate 530]

Apparently she was refused bail for her own safety, after 11 million people watched her on Youtube.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16051120

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I imagine that 'ladies' rant sounds an awful lot like a typical Danno family dinner conversation.

[Danno 1,228]

I imagine that 'ladies' rant sounds an awful lot like a typical Danno family dinner conversation.

IN some ways.... and there are millions and millions whispering the same forbidden thoughts.

Apparently she was refused bail for her own safety, after 11 million people watched her on Youtube.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16051120

Boy is thats not right out of the Soviet hand book "It's for your own protection."