This year, the European Games 2015 will take place in Azerbaijan. Last year has been one of the most tragic years for Azerbaijan, in light of the preservation of human rights, since its independence in 1991. Anyone who criticizes the government risks being put behind bars. With this and the sport event in mind, the Azerbaijani journalist and dissident Emin Milli will hold the Freedom Lecture on the situation in his country.
After the lecture Emin speaks with Leon Willems and the audience about the boundaries of freedom of speech. What is it like to be punished for expressing your views and how does censorship affect the daily life in Azerbaijan? What role does satire and humor have in the struggle for freedom of speech? And what are his thoughts about the ongoing debate about this subject in Western Europe? Anton Dautzenberg ends the program with a spoken column.
* Read here the column of Anton Dautzenberg *
About the speakers
Emin Milli is one of the most well-known critical voices from Azerbaijan’s fast growing oppositional movement. After placing a satirical clip on the internet that indirectly criticizes the government, he was sentenced to two years in jail. Since his release, Milli has continued his fight for freedom of speech in Azerbaijan. In 2013 he founded Meydan tv, an independent and alternative news channel.
Leon Willems is the director of Free Press Unlimited and contributed to the establishment of independent radio broadcasting in Darfur and South Sudan. As a writer, Anton Dautzenberg pushes the limits of free speech in the Netherlands. He is a critical thinker, who one several prices with his work. Moderator is Frederiek Biemans.
About the Freedom Lecture
For the third year in a row De Balie (Amsterdam) and Amnesty International present The Freedom Lecture-series. For each lecture, one critical thinker gives a speech to tell his story and highlight the cause he or she is committed to.
A Cooperation between Nutshuis and Humanity House
In 2015 the Freedom Lecture is hold twice in the Hague: In March in Het Nutshuis en on the 22nd of May in Humanity House. Buy online your ticket.