Freedom of Expression

The history of freedom of expression is quite long, and apparently early examples of societies providing such freedom include not only the classical Greek city states but also the Madrasahs and universities of classical Islamic society (where the university was invented). Of course, historically churches were not pleased by apostates nor heretics, and for most of history kings and sultans were not open to criticism. It would seem that censorship gained new urgency for religious and government leaders after the invention of printing, when opinions could be widely shared. Of course, with radio, television, and the Internet added to the print media, there is even more technological capacity to share opinions, and consequently considerable enthusiasm on the part of those who would coerce agreement to censor free speech.

In the West, it would seem that the resistance to censorship gained importance in the Reformation, with a concern for freedom of religious expression. It gained currency in political documents with the American Bill of Rights and French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.


I quote from Wikipedia:

Areopagitica, published in 1644, was John Milton's response to the Parliament of England's re-introduction of government licensing of printers, hencepublishers. Milton made an impassioned plea for freedom of expression and toleration of falsehood, stating:

"Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties."

Today, freedom of expression is enthroned in a number of international agreements, Again, quoting from Wikipedia:

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, states that:

"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."

Today freedom of speech, or the freedom of expression, is recognized in international and regional human rights law. The right is enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

It is hard to see how one can promote knowledge for development without also promoting freedom of expression!