Canadian PM: Free Speech Has limits

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended free speech on Friday ,October 30, but with careful use, distancing himself from the position of French President Emmanuel Macron on the Prophet Mohammed cartoons.

Trudeau defended freedom of expression, while believing that it was “not without limits” and should not “arbitrarily and needlessly hurt” certain communities.

"We will always defend freedom of expression," Trudeau said. "But freedom of expression is not without limits."

"We owe it to ourselves to act with respect for others and to seek not to arbitrarily or unnecessarily injure those with whom we are sharing a society and a planet," he added.

“We do not have the right for example to shout fire in a movie theatre crowded with people,” he argued. “There are always limits."

He pleaded for a careful use of free speech as he has distanced himself from the position of French President Emmanuel Macron on the Mohammed cartoons.

"In a pluralist, perse and respectful society like ours, we owe it to ourselves to be aware of the impact of our words, of our actions on others, particularly these communities and populations who still experience a great deal of discrimination," the Prime Minister stated.

At the same time, the Prime Minister said society is ready for a public debate on these issues, "to have these complex conversations in a responsible way," insisting on condemning the recent "awful and appalling" extremist attacks in France.

"It is unjustifiable and Canada wholeheartedly condemns these acts while standing with our French friends who are going through extremely difficult times," the Prime Minister said.