One of the centrepieces of the University of St Andrew’s 600th anniversary celebrations was the Graduation Ceremony. Hundreds attended the ceremony itself and many more streamed the ceremony live. The star of the show, in many ways, was Hillary Clinton, ex-Secretary of State and potentially the future President of the United States. She wasn’t theContinue reading “The Fragile Net”
Tag Archives: freedomofspeech
Singapore: A wealthy city-state where the freedom is poor
Singapore is known to outsiders for its unique laws on the likes of chewing gum, tobacco, toy currency (not counterfeit, but the ones children play with) and pornographic material. It is also one of the wealthiest countries in the Asian continent, if not the world, with a GDP per capita of $60,900. Likewise known forContinue reading “Singapore: A wealthy city-state where the freedom is poor”
Lèse-majesté in Thailand
“The law’s defenders claim that Thailand’s love for its king is incomparable. Its critics say the law has become the foremost threat to the freedom of expression”. (David Streckfuss – Truth on Trial in Thailand) Lèse-majesté – the crime of speaking offensively about the monarchy, has been present in Thai legislation for over a century;Continue reading “Lèse-majesté in Thailand”
The Pussy Riot Controversy: Freedom of Speech vs. Breaching the Peace
All-female Russian punk band Pussy Riot has been thrown into the spotlight following three controversial jail sentences for its members. The women were found guilty of “premeditated hooliganism performed by an organized group of people motivated by religious hatred or hostility”. The arrests followed a spontaneous concert, for which the group are most known for,Continue reading “The Pussy Riot Controversy: Freedom of Speech vs. Breaching the Peace”
The future of Saudi Arabia lies in Hamza Kashgari
(and incidentally, vice versa…) On the occasion of Mawlidon February 4, 2012, Hamza Kashgari, a columnist for the Jeddah-based daily Al-Bilad, published three tweets about an imagined meeting with Muhammad, addressing him as an equal. One tweet read, “On your birthday, I shall not bow to you. I shall not kiss your hand. Rather, IContinue reading “The future of Saudi Arabia lies in Hamza Kashgari”
Protocol Magazine 