As per 5pillars News –
The founder of Telegram, one of the few relatively uncensored messaging apps, has been arrested in France.
Pavel Durov was arrested around 8 p.m. on Saturday as he landed in his private jet at Bourget Airport in Paris.
Since the start of Israel’s genocide on Gaza, Telegram has been one of the few communication apps which have resisted Western attempts to ban pro Palestine content.
The 39-year-old Franco-Russian, who was listed as a wanted person in France, had just arrived from Azerbaijan.
The French judicial authorities decided on Sunday to extend his custody, which is limited to 96 hours.
The French investigation is focussing on Telegram’s “lack of moderation,” which police believe “enabled criminal activity to continue undeterred on the messaging app.”
Comment –
Arresting someone for their association with a communication platform is inconsistent with the values of their so called freedom of speech and expression. But actually it highlights the very basic reality that – Absolute freedom is a myth and Selective Enforcement is what countries often practise based on their political inclinations and dynamics.
The Myth of Absolute Freedom –
Absolute freedom is indeed a myth because freedom is always contextual and limited by various factors—cultural, moral, and political.
The self portrayal of France as the ambassador of freedom of speech and expression is actually the portrayal of the absolute myth.
Banning of Veiling:
France’s decision to ban certain forms of veiling, such as the niqab and burqa, has been a violation of religious freedom. The French government argues that these bans are in line with the country’s principles of secularism (laïcité) and the belief that religious symbols should not be visible in public spaces. But we know while religious symbols like small crosses or the Star of David may be worn discreetly without any issue.
Banning of Palestinian Protests:
Similarly, the banning of Palestinian protests is an infringement of free speech.
France always try to position itself as a “defender” of free speech, especially in the context to criticize (to insult) and express views “freely”, even when they are highly offensive, be it the cartoon portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) OR a scene being enacted in the opening ceremony of Olympics 2024, held in Paris, resembling Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of ‘The Last Supper’ with a naked man painted in blue singing at the center of the table while dancing drag queens surrounded him from all around, resulting in hurting the sentiments of so many muslims, and Christians across the globe.
Indeed! Absolute freedom is a myth.
In France, disrespecting the national flag, such as burning or defacing it, can be considered an offense. The French Penal Code (Article 433-5-1) makes it illegal to publicly insult the French flag, with penalties.
One should always promote Fairness/Righteousness in speech rather than Freedom to insult or exploit, otherwise it is shackled in its own “freedom.”