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The Forum > General Discussion > 7 Years Imprisonment for Just Writing a Letter?

7 Years Imprisonment for Just Writing a Letter?

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I thought we all had the right to Freedom of Expression, it seems this man doesn't. The Australian on the 2nd of April in an article labelled him a 'prolific correspondent', then the very next day he's got the police at his door warning him with seven years jail if he continues writing letters to Private Luke Worsley's family. I am not supporting him or his views but I do believe I should support Freedom of Expression even if I don't agree with him. What do you all think?
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23469071-25090,00.html
http://www.sheikhharon.com/announcements.html
Posted by Bright1, Thursday, 3 April 2008 10:01:05 PM
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There have been a few threads about 'Sheikh Haron', they all pretty much end up with the same possibilities over his identity:

1) the guy doesn't exist in reality, he's just a troll looking for people to get all offended over what he says.

2) Even if he is real, when does 'freedom of expression' become harassment? I would suggest that even if he is telling the truth, he should be charged with harassment.

Personally, I wouldn't believe anything about 'Sheikh Haron', whoever that idiot turns out to be.
Posted by Bugsy, Thursday, 3 April 2008 10:47:34 PM
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Yeah, whoever this "Sheikh Haron" is, he's obviously able to maintain his silly website where he can publish all the tripe he likes. The letters to the dead soldier's parents cross the line between freedom of expression and harassment, if indeed they were real. It all seems a bit too close to April Fools Day to me...

Mind you, we only have the word of the rather coy and certainly loopy "Sheikh" that the incident with the police actually occurred. And if it did, who really cares?
Posted by CJ Morgan, Thursday, 3 April 2008 10:57:42 PM
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"The letters to the dead soldier's parents cross the line between freedom of expression and harassment, if indeed they were real."

That all depends on the frequency of the letters. No one is forcing them to read this correspondence. Just because you may find something offensive doesn't mean you can go off and cry to the police. Most people suck it up and/or ignore it. Celebrities would probably laugh at these complaints. I smell politically-driven policing and those threats can't be true...that would truly be disturbing.
Posted by Steel, Thursday, 3 April 2008 11:44:36 PM
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CJM got it right but if the idiot exists even as a joke he/she is indeed an idiot.
Posted by Belly, Friday, 4 April 2008 5:43:45 AM
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Freedom of expression (or speech) should never be used as support to this kind of vile harrassment. It devalues the spirit and intent of "freedom of speech" and minimises the horror and grief caused by this this type of harrassment.
Posted by pelican, Friday, 4 April 2008 9:46:26 AM
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