Freedom of expression is one of highly required fundamental rights, without which no man can do his best. However, it does not mean that we should express whatever we feel. There must be restriction on freedom of expression, it may through art or craft if it is against the national integration.

No, there should not be any limitations on freedom of expression be it artists or the masses as a whole for it would mean limiting our rights to benefit those who take liberty in suppressing, maiming, threatening, killing, and gagging others. The artists who are the true saviors of the freedom of expression are actually the voice of the masses that are suppressed in fear. Limiting freedom of speech & expression will be giving power to those in power or vying for power to limit our rights and the rights of the population at large.

No one actually loves the truth, but someone has to say it and who ever take the stand in the name of freedom of expression deserves our gratitude.

We are falling short of our responsibility to defend those who raise their voices to bring out the evil and we are falling short of our responsibility in helping to bring in the truth. If artistic expression is hurting any sentiments of any religion…let it be. Calling for artists to bring down their art is in fact helping the dissenting voices get greater control of the situation and in this time of history when we talk of phobias and hatred towards each other, these artistic expressions should be considered as oasis in desert. I think these artists are the ones who can lead us to the real cause of Osamas being born, Fatwas being issued and Mosques and Temples being destroyed.

I think there’s something wrong with the artists being biased as whenever I see the issue of freedom of expression and its misuse, it’s most of the time, if not always, against the Muslims. Can anyone defend this bias? And please don’t call it Islamophobia.

@Faisalkhan

That's a way of expressing things. If you don't like it, don't look at it. And if you look at it, don't take it too seriously. No harm done, really. Thanks

No freedom is absolute, No freedom can be chained either - and here comes the problem allowing artists to take undue advantage in the name of art. As a critic or a viewer, we appreciate a piece, if it’s worth it and criticize if not. But that doesn’t give rights to any self-proclaimed artist to disparage anybody or hurt sentiments, religious or otherwise. And especially when you cannot categorize what’s art and what not – or rather I’d better put it straight – it applies to everything created, doesn’t’ matter is what shape, there should be limits.

The globe rounds on the right to freedom of expression secured to the people living anywhere in it. Without it one van never think to develop the society in which they live and the country of which they feel proud. Intellectual development of the country depends upon the level of the freedom of the expression people living in the country have. Forget to talk about Swedish artist Lars Vilks and Indian painters MF Hussian because these are the people who have abused the right. You can’t compare both with writers like Taslima Nasreen and Salman Rushdie.

Sanyog...you said that the artists who are the true saviors of the freedom of expression are actually the voice of the masses that are suppressed in fear Who is there to decide which artists are true saviors of the freedom? Can you call MF Hussain a true savior? Get some brain dude...

The limits, if necessary, should be decided by the popular governments of different countries because the freedom of expression varies place to place. You can't have a universal restriction on this right. What is right in middle east or in Europe or in the United States can't be the same in every country.

limitless freedom of speech is the cause of all quarrels happening in the world.

This is a Canadian blog which happens to belong to a Muslim who understands how precious liberty and freedom of speech is to a free society. Bravo!

@ VIkas

I don't support you in your views to protect freedom. Freedom is vital to innovation, creativity, and the greater good!Fear prompts people to limit freedom.

Artistic expressions are encouraging phobia and hatred against beliefs. We shouldn’t ignore those lil piece of shit what they call creations or ‘art’.

Jess..can u tell us why u are so anti-muslims?

Ali..Jess is anti-muslims because you people are anti-humanity.

Yes, there should be limitation on freedom of expression for the good of society. In Canada, freedom of expression has long been regarded as the most important democratic value but free speech can’t be termed as an absolute right in any case. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives permission to supersede basic rights if such rights can be perceptibly warranted in a free and democratic society. Canadian legislators have declared messages promoting discrimination or hatred as unprotected expression. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean free speech of free expression at all.

There should be some law in place that requires some moral policing for those who views and events in media. They should believe and remember that their expression will have great impact on the lives of common people.

The concept of ’community media’ or ’new media’ is completely based on the extreme form of the fundamental right - right to freedom of speech and expression. To strengthen voice of locals and to become a wide platform for the people who’s voice and expression being oppressed, the community media should not provide any space to people having main motto of misusing the right.

I just love the ‘journalism’ because the right to freedom of speech and expression is the soul of the profession and I hate those pseudo-intellectual journalists and artists who treat the basic right as one-night stand. Those people can go to any extent for cheap name and fame by misusing the right. Limitations should be there in place for such people. You can name them as MF Hussains or Lars Vilks

21st century is the age of technological advancement and this is impossible to stop anyone just in the name of the kind of rights he or she has because technology supports masses. Within minutes rabble can throw their amplified and distorted (in some cases) thoughts and expressions through community media. It may create trouble but one can term it as the people wrote what they felt that’s it. The concept ‘Freedom of Expression’ should be seen in I constructive manner.

Any fool can jump online by clicking the mouse and with their garbage thoughts and opinions and badly-backed creativity to make it just another dustbin of lower level thoughts and writings. It creates controversy within hours and disrupts the lives and livelihoods of several people. Limits are necessary for such writers.

Freedom of expression through speech or art or literature must not have no limits at all. Some people's sensibilities might be hurt by people from certain communities calling names to people from other communities like the Islamic cleric in Australia called women from communities who dress liberally as open meat for cats to be eaten.

The ideal situation would be to let the followers of all faith do what they please and not dictate terms on others within the faith or outside like Salman Rushdie or Jyllands-Posten. Also, people from all faiths should respect the sensitivities of each other. Artists and writers too must not go overboard in the name of freedom of expression and sensationalise their work. We must understand that the world is not yet ready for this, though it will be someday in the next fifty years.