Press Freedom, Murder, and American Foreign Policy
Istanbul, Turkey, October 2018
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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The assassination of Jamal Khashoggi
The Washington Post- Jamal Khashoggi’s murder was a human rights violation by Saudi government, State Department says
USA Today - Turkish officials say a Saudi murder squad is behind journalist’s death
CNN - White House declines to submit report to Congress on Khashoggi killing
The Washington Post
Consider how the stories below amplify the context of Khashoggi’s murder and American policy in the region.
Related News and Comment
- Killing Khashoggi was a warning shot, The Huffington Post
Protests outside Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington turn violent; 11 injured — May 2017- Cabinet member applauds lack of protests in Saudi Arabia, where protest is illegal — May 2017
- Netflix pulls critical comedy episode from Saudi platform — December 2018
- Saudi Court Issues Final Verdicts in Khashoggi Killing — The New York Times
The Role of Free Speech
- It Wasn’t Just Khashoggi: A Saudi Prince’s Brutal Drive to Crush Dissent
The New York Times - Netflix’s Bow to Saudi Censors Comes at a Cost to Free Speech
The New York Times - Laws Banning “Fake News”: A Growing International Trend?
Free Speech Today - Comparing Hate Speech Laws In The U.S. And Abroad
NPR
Point / Counterpoint
Is it the responsibility of the United States and international institutions to enforce Free Speech abroad? The incidents above, along with the arguments below, illuminate some of the fundamental tensions related to Free Speech abroad and foreign policy-related Free Speech conflicts in the United States.
- How the mysteries of Khashoggi’s murder have rocked the U.S.-Saudi partnership
The Washington Post - The U.N. Hates Hate Speech More Than It Loves Free Speech
Foreign Policy - Netflix Chose a New Market Over Free Speech. That Sets a Disturbing Precedent
The New York Times - The Problem With Making Hate Speech Illegal
Foreign Policy
Discussion Questions
- Should the United States export the First Amendment abroad? Put another way, should the United States make respect for Free Speech and press freedom a precondition for foreign policy?
- Is exporting the First Amendment a noble foreign policy objective or an example of cultural imperialism? How might different political systems and expectations affect interpretations of Free Speech abroad?
- Taking the Minhaj case as an example, do U.S. companies have an obligation to align their conduct with the spirit of the First Amendment when conducting business abroad?
- To what extent has Free Speech or the First Amendment embedded itself as an American cultural value? Has the U.S. government been too quick to compromise when dealing with the brutal actions of a country that is an oil supplier and arms purchaser?
- The Department of Homeland Security planned to create a list of journalists and media influencers, allegedly for national security purposes. Many journalists expressed serious concern over how the list might be used to intimidate or manipulate the media. How do we balance a free press with national security? In what other situations might this trade-off arise?
Activity
Click on these themes below: Foreign Policy + Violence/Threats
Discuss: What patterns emerge? Does this confluence of stories with these filters tell us about Free Speech issues in the United States? Free Speech and foreign policy?