Written by Meltem Cana Etiz

“I have a right to [express] my opinion. It’s a free country.” - Somebody, somewhere, right now, probably.

The quote above is one that I have heard so many times that I do not know who to credit it with. It is also true, granted you live in a country that recognizes citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and protects them. Before talking about what freedom of expression (i.e. free speech) means for those who have it or seek it, we need to be clear on the legal and social definitions.

“Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication” is stated as a fundamental right protected under section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights. This “fundamental right” typically applies to individuals (people), and it also can apply to organizations, with certain limitations placed by The Supreme Court of Canada. These limitations mainly concern the factuality and potential harm of any information shared. The purpose of protecting this freedom is for the public to have a voice in the conversation about the systems (such as government bodies, politicians, health care, and education) that are meant to serve citizens. It also allows the public to have a say in how these systems can be improved. One example is the public response the awareness raisedto the current federal government’s either inability or outright refusal to protect Mi'kmaq treaty rights, and how this is impacting their ability to maintain their livelihood following attacks by commercial fishermen. These instances are proof of how free speech is a crucial tool in leading change.

So in short, yes. Yes, you have a fundamental right to have and express your opinion. However, in this era, ”free speech” has taken on a popular meaning of “being able to say whatever we’d like” and not being responsible for how and what we say. We need to unlearn that right now.

In Canada and the United States, our freedom of expression and right to criticize are protected from political persecution. This protection specifically means that you are free to think and say what you want without retaliation from the Canadian government. It does not mean that you are free from the consequences brought on by your words. Voicing bigoted opinions, using hate speech, abusive language, racist or sexist slurs aren’t actionably illegal. Neither is the verbal, social, and economic retaliation they will most definitely bring. In some cases, words can be enough for one’s own undoing, even in the “free-est” of countries. For example in 2017, Michelle Carter was sentenced to 15 months in jail for verbally encouraging her late boyfriend’s suicide over the phone. She was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Massachusetts, USA where the American term “free speech” is a first amendment right. This is evidence that “freedom” is a fine line to walk and that we should do so without violating the rights of others.

Before expressing ourselves, now more than ever, we have to consider whether or not we are willing to take responsibility for the results of our words. Where there is freedom, there is always a consequence. An important thought to keep in mind is that freedom of expression should not be taken for granted. This is because speech is not free, by any means, for most of the world’s population.

According to Business Insider, over 50 countries have limits to freedom of expression for their people. This can take the form of banning/censoring social media platforms, such as the well known Facebook ban in China, or Turkey’s “on again, off again” relationships with Twitter and YouTube. Further, some nations have such strict restrictions that openly criticizing the governing regime is a criminal offense. Recently, more information on China’s systemic violence on ethnic Uighurs has surfaced on numerous media platforms. This information has come to light despite the efforts of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to keep the news out of the public eye for years. In 2019, China surpassed Turkey with the highest number of imprisoned journalists in the world. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Eritrea, Vietnam, Cameroon, Iran and Azerbaijan were also referenced in the Forbes infographic as the countries with most imprisoned journalists in the world. The charges laid against journalists, authors and open dissenters were anything from “spreading false information” to “anti-state activity”.

Unfortunately, imprisonment is not the steepest cost of being heard. In many ways, governments that refuse to protect freedom of expression do so with a planned, concise agenda.Going against that agenda can lead to tragic and frightening results. The 2006 shooting of Anna Politkovskaya, a prominent journalist and human rights activist, who reported on Russia’s relationship with Chechnya, openly dissenting the Kremlin has yet to be justly investigated. Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB agent with information on numerous cover-ups executed by the Kremlin was covertly poisoned by two government officials from the Russian Federation in London, UK. Despite his identification of the perpetrators, the Russian government denied the extradition treaty. In 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who vocalized criticisms of his nation’s regime was brutally assassinated in a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. There are many other names who are known for their sacrifice and many more who have been lost to history in their search for freedom to express themselves.

As young adults, we are learning the ropes of growing up.Taking responsibility for how we express ourselves is a major part of that process. What we say, both in real life and online, can cost us academic, career, and even social opportunities. Even when we firmly believe that our words and actions are justified, it’s necessary to consider that other people, groups, organizations, or governments may not have the same prerogative. What are the risks of expressing oneself and are they worth the principle and result?

My ability to publish this article is a privilege and in knowing that I take my freedom to do so as an honour. My hope is that you appreciate in your own right to express and that you use it wisely.

The Value and Price of Free Speech

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