Libel has never had free speech protections and the message on the billboard is an egregious lie -- grossly defamatory to Israel and Israelis
The Free Palestine billboard that was taken down last week from its City Road, Southbank [Melbourne] position by oOh! Media pending a determination, will not be put back.
The Chief Operating Officer of oOh! Media said that his company had decided the Apartheid message – Wrong in South Africa. Wrong in Palestine. was political and that it was within its rights to terminate the contract with Australians for Palestine. He also advised that the Advertising Standards Board would not be making a ruling.
While clause 10.1 does allow for termination of the contract, the required seven (7) days written notice was never given. Instead the billboard was arbitrarily taken down within 48 hours. The company claimed that it had made its decision after considering the unprecedented number of complaints.
Ms Samah Sabawi speaking on behalf of Australians for Palestine said “that this action contravenes the rights to freedom of opinion and expression as set out in articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Australia is party.”
SOURCE
3 comments:
Again using speech that is more and more outrageous just to be heard above the last outrageous commentary.
MDH
No Ms Sabawi - in this country you remain free to your opinions and to express them. However, subject to the contract, you cannot force another party to carry them.
Freedom of speech does not extend to forcing companies to display ideology that they don't agree with. Imagine the hate that would be generated if the Jewish people sponsored a billboard accusing Palestinians of attempted genocide. That is the aim of Hamas but the left would go absolutely nuts. I wonder if I could find a billboard company willing to take the left on?
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