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Limits To Free Expression

Limits To Free Expression

I HAVE read the opinion titled ‘Coexistence or no Existence’ in your newspaper of 10/02/06 and I’m happy with most of it, especially when talking about mutual respect, tolerance, better understanding and coexistence between Europe and the Islamic world.

But please allow me to differ with the writer’s father saying that “Freedom of expression provides a right to say what you think, but it is not an obligation to do so”. For one reason or another, I’m unable to digest that; it could be because my father taught me that my freedom stops before the line where the rights of others start, “before the line not even at the line”.Freedom of expression was abused, not used, by publishing the cartoons.One cannot demonstrate your freedom by insulting others, at that stage it is not freedom of expression, it is something else, let me not name it! Freedom of expression has borders; its borders are the rights of others.Please allow me to rephrase the above sentence to read ” Freedom of expression does not provide a right to say what you think if it offends the rights of others”.Dr Hesham R.Lotfy Science Faculty UnamFor one reason or another, I’m unable to digest that; it could be because my father taught me that my freedom stops before the line where the rights of others start, “before the line not even at the line”.Freedom of expression was abused, not used, by publishing the cartoons.One cannot demonstrate your freedom by insulting others, at that stage it is not freedom of expression, it is something else, let me not name it! Freedom of expression has borders; its borders are the rights of others.Please allow me to rephrase the above sentence to read ” Freedom of expression does not provide a right to say what you think if it offends the rights of others”.Dr Hesham R.Lotfy Science Faculty Unam

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