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Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech, or freedom of expression, is the right of an individual or a group to express their opinions without the fear of reprisals, censorship or legal repercussions.

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All Content on this topic

DW Karikatur von Erdem

Three for free: Cartoonists in support of freedom of speech

Three cartoonists offer their take on the state of free speech in their home countries: Russia, Turkey and Kenya.
MediaJune 16, 20173 images
Japan Protest gegen Anti-Terror-Gesetz in Tokio

'Handcuffs on democracy'

The government claims legislation is needed to ensure the security of the public during the Tokyo Olympic Games.
PoliticsJune 16, 2017
Symbolbild Facebook Blasphemie in Pakistan

Pakistan's social media death sentence

In a first verdict of its kind, a Pakistani court has sentenced a man to death for committing blasphemy on social media.
SocietyJune 11, 2017
Ruanda Kigali - blogger Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza

Rwandan blogger talks about free speech

Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza, 35, is Rwandan blogger based in Kigali. His blog 'GateteViews' 
PoliticsJune 9, 201703:52 min
Lindsey Kukunda - Journalistin und Aktivistin aus Uganda

Women 'must speak out' on Ugandan social media

Lindsey Kukunda
Was the arrest of a woman in Uganda was after she criticized the president and his minister wife based on her gender?
MediaJune 2, 2017
Grundgesetz Erklärvideo Vorschaubild ENG Artikel 5

The German Basic Law: freedom of expression

Freedom of expression is a basic right in Germany, but it does not cover libel or slander.
PoliticsJune 2, 201700:57 min
Julian Assange

Whistleblowers should be ‘protected not prosecuted’

Lawyer Renata Avila thinks global democracy would instead benefit from greater protections for leakers.
MediaMay 5, 2017
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WHCA’s Jeff Mason on Trump era press freedom

Interview with Jeff Mason, recipient of DW’s Freedom of Speech Award 2017
May 4, 201707:03 min
external

@dwnews - Social media remains a powerful weapon for the fight for press freedom

PoliticsMay 3, 201703:47 min
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DW's Freedom of Speech Award 2017

The White House Correspondents' Association holds US leadership to account, DW says. That's why they won the award.
PoliticsMay 3, 201701:07 min
Pakistan Anti Charlie Hebdo Protest 22.01.2015

Blasphemy allegations and self censorship

Blasphemy allegations in South Asia's Muslim-majority countries are forcing journalists and bloggers to self censor.
SocietyMay 3, 2017
Freedom of press - best and worst from each continent

PEN Germany president warns of threats to freedom of speech

Regula Venske, new president of PEN Germany, speaks with DW about current threats to authors and freedom of speech.
CultureMay 3, 2017
Tansania Polizei attackiert einen Journalisten in Dar es Salaam

Media freedom in Africa 'not great'

Restrictions in Africa range from subtle forms of censorship to imprisonment for journalists just doing their jobs.
PoliticsMay 3, 2017
Jeff Mason (picture-alliance/dpa/Albin Lohr-Jones/Consolidated)

White House Correspondents win DW Freedom of Speech Award

Deutsche Welle said the WHCA had established a new benchmark in holding US leadership accountable.
MediaMay 3, 2017

'EU discouragement' has hurt free expression in Turkey

Sedat Ergin
The EU's faded support of Turkey's has contributed to the declining state of freedom of speech and the media in Turkey.
MediaMay 3, 2017
Symbolbild Pressefreiheit in der Türkei

Turkey's journalists under siege

"It's time we speak out for the imprisoned journalists in Turkey."
PoliticsMay 3, 2017
A rapper with a hood over his head in front of a microphone.

Pulse: Power of spoken word

Words can build but they can also destroy.
April 25, 201719:59 min
A silhoutte of a young rapper infront of the microphone.

Pulse: Morrocan rappers

Many young Moroccans are using rap to voice their concerns but as Guy Hedgecoe reports, that can be a risky business.
PoliticsApril 25, 201703:29 min
Malediven Hauptstadt Male

Human rights blogger is killed in the Maldives

Yameen Rasheed is the third media figure on the tropical atoll to either be killed or abducted in the past five years.
PoliticsApril 23, 2017
Ägypten Polizei in Kairo

Egypt lawyer gets ten years for Facebook post

An Egypt court has sentenced a lawyer to ten years in prison and five years of house arrest for insulting the president.
MediaApril 13, 2017
Rashida Nalukenge links und Catherine Nantume rechts basteln Binden

Sanitary pad unsettles Uganda

Ugandan girls are missing school because they can't afford hygiene products.
PoliticsMarch 31, 2017
Türkei Istanbul Demonstranten protestieren gegen Verhaftung von Reportern ohne Grenzen

Turkish opposition TV broadcasts from Germany

A Turkish opposition TV channel broadcasting from Germany hopes to highlight anti-democratic practices in Turkey.
MediaMarch 18, 2017
Zensur-Kampagne in Spanien - Gericht

Concerns about free speech in Spain

The cases of six people in Spain tried for glorifying terrorism in tweets has raised concerns over free speech.
PoliticsMarch 16, 2017
Solidarity event for Deniz Yücel in Berlin

Berlin artists stand in solidarity with Deniz Yücel

They called on Turkey to release the German-Turkish journalist, while sending a message to populists in Europe.
CultureMarch 16, 2017
Mazedonien Journalisten Proteste in Skopje

Journalists targeted in Macedonia

Masked men have attacked Macedonian journalists at rallies, in restaurants and even at home.
PoliticsMarch 3, 2017
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@dwnews - #FreeDeniz supporters took to social media

Human RightsMarch 2, 201702:10 min
Pen in the air

Why press freedom in Turkey is under threat

Turkey's constitution guarantees press freedom; other laws are turning it into one of the worst places for journalists.
CultureMarch 1, 2017
Deutschland Autokorso für inhaftierten Journalisten Deniz Yücel in Berlin

Petition for Merkel to promote free speech in Turkey

Calls are growing for German Chancellor Angela Merkel to actively promote freedom of expression in Turkey.
Human RightsFebruary 24, 2017
Protests against against mass academic sackings in Ankara

Repression deepens for Turkish artists and intellectuals

The massive crackdown has been ongoing for months, but Turkey's latest wave of sackings goes one step further.
CultureFebruary 13, 2017
Polen Polizei Autos im Stadtteil Wlochy in Warschau

Police raid anti-racism NGO in Poland

The raid come as the German branch of Reporters Without Borders has accused Poland's government of suppressing press.
PoliticsFebruary 3, 2017
Gedenkveranstaltung zu Anschlägen in Paris in Berlin 11.1.2015

Free speech is controversial two years after Charlie Hebdo

Despite the outpouring of solidarity, opinions differ about artistic freedom of expression.
CultureJanuary 6, 2017
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@dwnews: Turkish freedom of speech crackdown criticised online

PoliticsJanuary 4, 201703:49 min
hands at a keyboard

Criminalizing fake news the way forward?

Digital rights groups have warned of the harrowing effects it could have online, including censorship.
PoliticsDecember 14, 2016
Ringvorlesung Real Digital WeltimWandel, Foto: DW/C. Hauswedell

MediaDecember 14, 2016
Daniel Lee, independent bookseller in Hong Kong

Hong Kong bookseller: 'Our future looks very grim'

Last year, booksellers in Hong Kong disappeared. DW discussed the situation with Daniel Lee, who runs his own bookstore.
CultureDecember 6, 2016
Äthiopien Addis Abeba Universität Kommunikation Internetsperre

Internet blackout forces young Ethiopians to go retro

Internet blackouts in Ethiopia are leading people to adopt 'old-school' solutions for maintaining their social lives.
PoliticsNovember 23, 2016
Tunesien Präsident der Kommission für Wahrheit und Würde Sihem Ben Sedrine

Tunisian abuses revealed on TV

Several people have appeared on TV telling of abuses committed during authoritarian rule in post-independence Tunisia.
Human RightsNovember 18, 2016
Deutschland Berlin SAP-Geschaeftsstelle

Fake news: A post-truth medium

From the pope endorsing Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton arming the "Islamic State," fake news has become a viable force.
MediaNovember 17, 2016
PEN International campaign for Turkish author Asli Erdogan

'Art cannot be suppressed,' says PEN Germany's president

Two Turkish journalists were prosecuted for critical reporting. Now they're being honored by PEN Germany.
CultureNovember 16, 2016
Pressefreiheit Malaysia

Everything is an 'official secret'

The conviction of an opposition lawmaker under Malaysia's Official Secrets Act has renewed calls for the law's repeal.
PoliticsNovember 16, 2016
Kenyan photo journalist protesting with tape over his mouth

Day of the Imprisoned Writer: Supporting persecuted authors

Sascha Feuchert of PEN's Writers in Prison Committee tells DW why the persecuted authors' cases need to be made public.
CultureNovember 15, 2016
Chinese publisher Gui Minhai (PEN International)

Persecuted authors worldwide: 7 of the worst cases

Countless authors, publishers and journalists are persecuted as freedom of expression is under attack. Here are seven.
CultureNovember 15, 20167 images
German comedian Jan Böhmermann (Photo: picture-alliance/Eventpress Hoensch)

Court case: Will Erdogan obtain a ban on Böhmermann's poem?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aims to have the entire poem by German comedian Böhmermann banned from public.
CultureNovember 2, 2016
Raif Badawi Amnesty International Demo

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi to receive more lashes

The Saudi government will apparently resume the lashing punishment against blogger Raif Badawi.
Human RightsOctober 18, 2016
Screenshot YouTube Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh

Vietnam arrests dissident blogger

Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, a prominent dissident blogger, has been arrested for "propagandizing against the state."
CatastropheOctober 11, 2016
Presse Dhaka

Is Bangladesh trying to silence NGOs?

Parliament passes a bill that makes it a criminal offense to make "malicious" comments on any constitutional bodies.
PoliticsOctober 7, 2016
Jan Böhmermann and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Copyright: DW

Böhmermann: German satirist sparks freedom of speech debate

After a satirical TV show targeting Turkey's Erdogan, German comedian Jan Böhmermann has sparked a huge debate.
CultureOctober 5, 2016
Indonesian youths browse their social media accounts at an Internet cafe in Jakarta, Indonesia (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muzzling free speech

The internet users are increasing rapidly in Indonesia, so are the cybercrimes.
September 22, 2016
Ruanda DSC

International Day of Democracy

Millions of people worldwide lack basic human rights. To celebrate the International Day of Democracy on September 15, I'd like to share DW Akademie's journey promoting freedom of expression.
September 15, 2016
Russland Moskau

Russian research institute under threat

Just ahead of Russia's parliamentary elections, a renowned polling organization has been listed as a "foreign agent."
September 6, 2016