Dear @Muhammad, let me remind You about the threads related to this one, links are attached.There are good answers!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_interpretation_understanding_of_freedom_of_expression/1

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Where_are_the_borders_between_free_speech_and_hatred_propaganda/1

Dear @Muhammad, according to Universal Declaration of Human rights, 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."

The right to freedom of expression is crucial in a democracy – information and ideas help to inform political debate and are essential to public accountability and transparency in government. "Article 10 gives everyone the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without State interference.This includes the right to communicate and to express oneself in any medium, including through words, pictures, images and actions (including through public protest and demonstrations)."

The case study of Great Britain is attached (their article 10)! Good explanation follow!

I think that freedom of speech has no borders, but have rules to respect!

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

https://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/human-rights/what-are-human-rights/human-rights-act/article-10-freedom-expression

Dear @Muhammad, let me remind You about the threads related to this one, links are attached.There are good answers!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_interpretation_understanding_of_freedom_of_expression/1

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Where_are_the_borders_between_free_speech_and_hatred_propaganda/1

Freedom of speech is a birth right of every human being. Nowadays many countries are restricting the communication even through email, social networks, etc., which according to them is a threat to the security of the nation.

I think that ultimate freedom of speech is as simple as to speak anything you like at any time, in any place, against anything, and in praising or advertising any issue.

However, this freedom of speech does not exist at all  even in  the so-called bastions of democracy &  even at peace time. You know very well that any revolutionary speech (against the system or the establishment or the “big brother” or the influential minority or on denial of certain historical event) will cause lot of trouble for you. The devious politicians may give you a selective dose of free speech but if you pass the “red” line, then they will send you to hell (on this earth).

Dear Dr. Nizar, I do absolutely agree about the relation of politics and fredom of speech. We can not avoid politician's hypocrisy in this sense! Here is the example about: Nick Clegg slams politicians who proclaim free speech yet seek to constrain it! “The irony appears to be lost on some politicians who say in one breath that they will defend freedom of expression and then in the next advocate a huge encroachment on the freedom of all British citizens...."

Similar situation is in my country as well!

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/jan/16/nick-clegg-slams-politicians-who-proclaim-free-speech-yet-seek-to-constrain-it

FoS must have protocols depending on areas of professionalism.

A non expert must not speak anything about anyone 

Freedom stops when it penetrates others' freedom of belief, life, etc etc. Je ne suis PAS Charlie at all. I have been a humorist a professional stand up comedian, the first in my home country as a woman and also made some jokes about religion or fundamentalism without risking my skin and/or offending  people's beliefs. I f I survived in Turkey, despite the fact that people enjoyed even my religious jokes without "attacking me" these people should know better. There is nothing "fun" about depicting a prophet naked, his valuables dangling ! This is not freedom this is tasteless stupidity in an age of Islamic fundamentalism/ en extremism causing already terror in the world ! Killing them would not be my answer for sure. But as the Pope said when you swear at  the mother of a Southern person (Latin, Arab etc.) he might want to punch you. When you do it in a Northern country they may react or joke like " My mom is dead, otherwise I would pass on your intentions about her, sorry for that ". What happened in France is sheer stupidity and ignorance !(if not intended provocation to start a witch hunt !)

The speech is double-edged, it can be positive: knowledge sharing, denounce evil in all its forms, advise, guide to the good of mankind; defend a noble cause ... it can also be negative: manipulation, lying about; make fun of someone or a nation; cause wars .....

So if this issue is related to recent events. I think the best defense

1- be strong, read, seeding wheat even on a sidewalk.

2- non treason in all its forms, not the lies in all its forms, not take that is not yours.

3- Yes to clemency, Yes to respect each other, yes to development

This is one way among others to a nation that demands respect for others.

Please go through the works of "John Stuart Mill" and an essay

" On Social Freedom: or the Necessary Limits of Individual Freedom Arising Out of the Conditions of Our Social Life" (# Dawson, Oswald. "On Social Freedom." In Oxford and Cambridge Review (London: Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd., 1907) pp. 57-83).

I like these quotes on Freedom Of Speech:

1) "Freedom of speech is a guiding rule, one of the foundations of democracy, but at the same time, freedom does not imply anarchy, and the right to exercise free expression does not include the right to do unjustified harm to others". 

by RAPHAEL COHEN-ALMAGOR, Speech, Media and Ethics

2) "Freedom of speech gives you the right to stay silent".

by NEIL GAIMAN, American Gods

I just wrote a POEM on "Freedom of Speech" titled it as "Speech and Silence". This is given below and the poem is also attached as a word doc file.

Speech and Silence

I often wondered about the difference

between the speech and the silence.

                                                             I often wondered…..

When I see the natural calamities hit

destroy everything on its way with might.

Then comes the silence and just silence

This reiterates that compassion is life’s essence.

                                                              I often wondered.....

Speech is important that stems from freedom of thought

but as necessary that it should not bear harmful intent.

Calm and forgiving is also the requisites when we differ

On the complex issues that only cause pain and anger.

                                                            I often wondered…..

When we follow ‘live and let live’, everything is pleasant

If otherwise makes our lives unworthy and filled with lament.

Between speech and its freedom, there is a fine thread

It is just compassion, love and learn to coexist that scores beyond.

                                                           I often wondered…..

by

C. Phaniraj

Dear Muhammad,

I am in theory a supporter of an absolute right to free speech but unfortunately at this time human kind is unable, unequipped, uneducated, unethical, uncaring, intolerant, unjust, and unloving to grasp what a great responsibility comes with this right.  However, I must, with all do respect, disagree with Nazar and claim we all have absolute freedom of speech in both private and public spaces. The difference is that in public spaces the consequences of said speech are the price paid by the social actor given the topic. 

In public spaces I would argue until a "massive" philosophical, psychological, and ideological transformation takes place in the human consciousness limitations must be placed on speech. For example in the U.S. it is illegal to yell fire in a crowded movie theater and I agree. In fact I am against of absolute freedom of speech at this time due to the issues mentioned above. 

I also must with all do respect disagree with Leyla and the need to quell speech that challenges (and may hurt) ones freedom of belief. In fact this is one of the most important act a social activist seeking a just society can do. Throughout history humanity has remained silent as Hitler, Pol Pot, Idi Amin Dada, and others spoke of "the other" as the enemy and are the ones to blame for the suffering the silent were going through.

Again, with all do respect Benamar in regards to treasonous speech. How else do we rally people to overthrow oppressive governments like Onganias, Levingston, and Lanusse's rule over Argentine and Pinochet in Chili of the countries governed by radical Islamic Fundamentalists which forbids basic human dignity and the brutal treatment of women and children? Treasonous must be shouted from the top of ones lungs in cases such as these.

Ending, I know in my life time I will never see a the day when humanity can be given the absolute right of freedom of speech with the morality, ethical, and respect of others it entails in what I believe humanity can be and that cannot stop the work that must be done. I also hope trough the freedom of speech we do have all can agree that one day all people look will look at the "other" and say: that is my human brother and over there is my sister. I hold close to my heart Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenge to us that one day  we will all be judged by the content of our character and not by the color of ones skin.  I would add their gender, religious beliefs. and whom they chose to love and this is a great responsibility that sadly as a species we are to immature at this time to handle.

Douglas

 To talk in regards to treason is illegal and I do not agree with this.    

I could never understand some things/subject and this question is part of some of those….but I feel I can share my views here ….

For me science/physics/engineering/technology all these are means of understanding Mother Nature …..I love science because it does not distinguish….If a ball will be dropped from a height h it will fall in same time T….. does not matter who is doing the experiment…does not matter he/she is doing in presence of thousands of people or alone…..does not matter if he is king or a poor…does not matter how old he/she is…does not matter if he/she is a scientist or an illiterate one..…

but same things are not applicable for the ‘man made rules’ ….policies/constitution/codes….etc..etc….

If we leave what is written in so many big big books about freedom of speech…..I feel every one will have a sense of freedom of speech…….even an illiterate person knows what to talk at what place…where to keep quite….what to talk in what situation…..when we go to some other country where traditions are totally different…we can even manage there with some basic sense….

If everyone can express his/her feelings to a dumb and deaf person and even with pet animals…and that also without uttering a single word….. it becomes very difficult to digest me how one talk something that hurt someone and he/she will object “it is beyond your freedom of speech”…

Now I will come to the question…How do you see Freedom of Speech Issue? Do you think there should be limits to this freedom like other freedoms?

In my opinion it will be very difficult to bound FoS in words…..Its a feeling……and everyone can feel it…everyone practices it in day to day life …

Efforts can be made by right people to write it in some legal language ….but I feel it will go through never ending amendments because with time we will always have better and better words to express it….

Media freedom in Serbia is under threat, EU Commission must act! "The repression of journalists and media organisations in Serbia has worsened in recent months, as journalists are summoned and websites are blocked. The EU Commission drew attention to the issue before; now it is time to push for regulation". How about your countries!

http://www.euractiv.com/topics/freedom-expression

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/media-freedom-serbia-under-threat-eu-commission-must-act-302731

Dear All,  As per definition "Freedom of speech is the concept of the inherent human right to voice one's opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment. "Speech" is not limited to public speaking and is generally taken to include other forms of expression'. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_in_the_United_States

I think freedom of speech, but more then this, "freedom of expression" is a fundamental key of Western culture. It's not possible think of West without this sensitive key. The logic included here is that only the freedom of expression can support the right of everyone get proper ideas. So it's not the prohibition of something that will protect people of the evil, but the evil will prevail if hasn't freedom of expression.