Freedom of speech – can we say what we like?

Freedom of speech gives us the right to express our opinions. But does that mean that we can say what we want?

Accessibility icon Freedom of speech – can we say what we like?

What is freedom of speech?

Imagine if someone stopped you from saying your opinion in class. Or that you would not be allowed to post something you think is important on social media. Imagine also that criticizing the government was forbidden. What if the news was censored by the state?

In Norway, we rarely need to think about such issues since we live in a complete democracy that looks after the  freedom of speech of citizens.

Freedom of opinion and expression is the right you have to:

  • Express your opinion – as long as it is not hateful or discriminatory
  • Search for, find and give information through media 

Freedom of opinion and expression is protected by Article 19 of the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is supported by the entire world.

Explanation

 

The road to freedom of opinion and expression

We have not always had the right to express ourselves. The idea of freedom of opinion and expression goes back to the Enlightenment period. Still, it was not until after World War II that it was seen as a basic human right.

In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was passed, and freedom of opinion and expression was a key article.

Article 19

“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.”

Before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of opinion and expression was limited. Journalists, activists and politicians were often censored if they criticized fixed norms or the government.

In Nazi Germany, writers and journalists who criticized Nazism were placed in concentration camps.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 3

Neste avsnitt

Is freedom of opinion and expression under threat?

In many countries, politicians and journalists are censored for their criticism of the government. Russia is an example of a country that has been criticized by human rights organizations for its censorship and plans that limit people’s right to express themselves.

In 2012, Russia passed an anti-propaganda law that stops people and the media from talking about LGBTQI+ people. At the same time, several journalists from Russia have been threatened after criticizing President Vladimir Putin.

Je suis Charlie

Freedom of expression is also under threat in Western Europe. This is not about state censorship, but about threats from different groups.

In 2015, twelve people, including journalists, were murdered because they had published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in the newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Several journalists and politicians around the world condemned these episodes by publishing statements on social media marked with #jesuischarlie.

Is there a limit?

Is there a limit to what a person can express today?

Many countries have laws that regulate the freedom of expression and discriminatory opinions. Hate crimes are acts that are motivated by hatred.

There may be discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion, but a hate crime can also be to publish a hateful or threatening message on social media, or to urge harm or discrimination against people belonging to specific groups.

Hate speech

Hate speech is communication in speech, writing or behavior, that attacks or uses discriminatory language about a person or a group on the basis of who they are.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt

The UN points to these three characteristics of hate speech:

Hate speech can be communicated through any form of expression, including images, cartoons, memes, objects, gestures and symbols, offline or online.

Hate speech is discriminating or prejudiced and demeaning of an individual or group.

Hate speech makes reference to real, alleged or implied things that can identify an individual or a group in a broad sense. It can be based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender. It can also be  any other characteristics such as language, economic or social origin, disability, health status, or sexual orientation, among many others.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 3

Neste avsnitt
Bakgrunn med masse tekstbobler med stygge meldinger i emojier
Bakgrunn med masse tekstbobler med stygge meldinger i emojier

Religious hatred and Quran burning – a dilemma

When the Danish-Swedish Rasmus Paludan burned a Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, Muslims around the world became enraged.

Is Quran burning religious hatred and an act that should be prohibited, or is this within the bounds of freedom of speech? This is difficult to answer. It is a dilemma.

In the UN, many believe that destroying religious books, especially burning the Quran, is very wrong. This is an illegal act, not a way to express opinions.

 

Others believe that burning a book restricts the freedom of speech of those who wrote the book. If you do not like what is written in a book, you can talk about what you do not like, but do not burn the book.

In Sweden, they believe that you can say whatever you want, no matter who gets hurt or offended. This is freedom of speech.

The police in Sweden have tried to stop actions where people want to burn the Quran, but Swedish courts have nevertheless allowed people to do so. They say it’s part of freedom of speech.

It is not forbidden to burn a book in Norway, even if it is important and sacred to others. However, the police have not given people permission to do this. It is dangerous for “security.”

In Finland, it is not allowed to say or do anything that is offensive or threatening to other religious communities. Violation of religious peace is a criminal act. Therefore, Quran burning is also forbidden.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 3

Neste avsnitt

Express yourself?

People in the LGBTQI+ community are more likely to experience discrimination in the job market, schools and hospitals. They are at greater risk of being singled out for physical attacks – beaten, sexually assaulted, tortured and killed. Some are mistreated and denied by their own families.

Transgender people are sometimes denied recognition of their gender identity and may face high levels of hate speech, bullying and exclusion. Some lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are also victims to unethical, harmful and traumatic so-called “conversion therapy” – a practice that has been proven to have no effect on an individual’ sexual orientation.

In a number of countries, members of the LGBTIQ+ community face censorship both when they seek information and when they speak about their issues, online or offline. In some contexts, discriminatory laws criminalize same-sex relations as well as transgender people. Those who speak out and demand equality can be victims of hate speech, violence, being sent to prison – even being killed.

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 3

Neste avsnitt
Illustrasjon av mennesker der noen har pride farger
Illustrasjon av mennesker der noen har pride farger

“Don´t say gay” in the USA

The Parental Rights in Education bill was passed in Florida in 2022. It is also called the “Don´t say gay” bill, and aims to limit the LGBTQ+ discussion in schools, and is part of the battle over how much say parents should have in their children’s education.

People who agrees with the bill believes that it is a parent’s right to decide what their children are exposed to. People who disagree claim that it is a violation of the freedom of opinion and expression and a violation of human rights.

The number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed in the US rose from  41 in 2018 to 238 by the first 3 months of 2022. How do you think these kinds of laws affect freedom of opinion and expression?

Forrige avsnitt

1 / 3

Neste avsnitt
Et tog med pride plakater
Et tog med pride plakater

How can we defend freedom of speech?

There are many ways to defend and support freedom of opinion and expression. First, the authorities should support human rights and work internationally so that more countries respect the various human rights conventions.

Another measure is to strengthen the roles of journalists so that they can inform us about and focus on issues of interest to the people. Independent media and journalists who are not censored by the state or large companies are vital to our freedom of information.

In addition, it is important to protect the freedom of expression by reporting discriminatory behavior, and actively fighting against the abuse of freedom of opinion and expression.

Sources:

  • Faktisk.no (31.08.2020): SIAN brente ikke Koranen på demonstrasjonen i Oslo i helgen. https://www.faktisk.no/artikler/26l/sian-brente-ikke-koranen-pa-demonstrasjonen-i-oslo-i-helgen
Forrige avsnitt

1 / 2

Neste avsnitt

Media Rights:

    1. Getty Images
    2. Getty Images
    3. NRK
    4. FN
    5. Getty Images
    6. Sébastien Amiet (CC BY 2.0) 
    7. Getty Images
    8. Getty Images
    9. Getty Images