While the dust has settled over ‘the Ghost who (didn't) walk' in Jaipur, the debate over whether the entire episode destroyed or protected freedom of expression rages on.  FREE SPEECH HUB brings together a quick compilation of different strands of opinion on this issue, not all of which we may agree with. In Part III, MUSHIRUL HASAN says that there are other ‘more important' issues for the media and muslims to deal with right now.

While the dust has settled over ‘the Ghost who (didn't) walk' in Jaipur, the debate over whether the entire episode destroyed or protected freedom of expression rages on.  FREE SPEECH HUB brings together a quick compilation of different strands of opinion on this issue, not all of which we may agree with. In Part II, SHAHID SIDDIQUI urges the intelligentsia not to be swayed by ‘Rushdie-ism'.

While the dust has settled over ‘the Ghost who (didn't) walk' in Jaipur, the debate over whether the entire episode destroyed or protected freedom of expression rages on.  FREE SPEECH HUB brings together a quick compilation of different strands of opinion on this issue, not all of which we may agree with. In Part I, the Chairman of the Press Council of India, Justice MARKANDEY KATJU says that freedom of speech needs to go with public interest.

While Rushdie's shadow was cast over the Jaipur Literary Festival, other writers grappled with questions of censorship, dissent and freedom of expression.  SAMIK DASGUPTA has this report.

Even as journalists are busy getting the inside story, there are others who are keeping a close watch on their every move.  MIR UBAID reveals that it has now become incumbent on media persons to employ secure communication tools.

There are already 1000 signatories to an online petition to lift the ban on Salman Rushdie's book,  initiated by writer NILANJANA ROY

The protests against Salman Rushdie's presence at the Jaipur Literary Festival by fundamentalist groups is undemocratic no doubt, but he wasn't the only one targeted.  The movements of other writers, journalists and researchers are continuously restricted in free India. A FREE SPEECH HUB comment.

The unseemly rush to initiate punitive action against Google, Facebook and other sites illustrates our systemic inability to deal with ‘problematic' content,  and our laws only fossilize this intolerance, says GEETA SESHU

On January 18th, thousands of websites went dark to protest against two US bills that threaten online security and freedom of expression.  MIR UBAID delves into the details.

For the media, 2011 was marked by the killings of journalists, major censorship and surveillance issues, far-reaching legislation, limits on online media freedom and more.  The Hoot's FREE SPEECH HUB takes an look. Pix credit: Mehraj, Kashmir Wala.