Democratic rights

• The right to vote is the most important democratic right as it allows people to choose their government.
• Chapter 5: Life without rights is central to the Constitution because it involves the enjoyment of rights to make a government democratic
• Guantanamo Bay: About 600 people were secretly picked up by US forces and put in a prison in Guantanamo Bay, controlled by the American Navy

  • Anas's father, Jamil El-Banna, was among them
  • American government said they were enemies of the US linked to the 9/11 attack
  • Families, media, and UN representatives were not allowed to meet the prisoners
  • Prisoners were interrogated and decided upon without trial
  • Amnesty International reported that prisoners were being tortured in ways violating US laws
  • UN Secretary General recommended closing down the prison, but the US government refused
• Saudi Arabia: Ruled by a hereditary king with citizens having no role in electing or changing rulers

  • King selects legislature, executive, and judges, and can change their decisions
  • Citizens cannot form political parties or organizations, and media is restricted
  • No freedom of religion, requiring every citizen to be Muslim
  • Women face public restrictions and unequal treatment
• Kosovo: Ethnic massacre in Kosovo where Serb nationalist Milosevic wanted Serb dominance

  • Albanian family faced violence and displacement due to ethnic prejudices
  • International intervention was needed to stop the massacre
  • Milosevic was tried by the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity
• Rights are reasonable claims of persons recognised by society and sanctioned by law
• Rights are necessary for the very sustenance of a democracy
• In a democracy, every citizen has the right to vote and the right to be elected to government
• For democratic elections to take place, citizens should have the right to express their opinion, form political parties and take part in political activities
• Rights protect minorities from the oppression of the majority
• Rights ensure that the majority cannot do whatever it likes
• Rights are guarantees that can be used when things go wrong
• Elected governments may not protect or may even attack the rights of their own citizens
• Some rights need to be placed higher than the government so that the government cannot violate them
• Basic rights of citizens are written down in the constitution in most democracies
• The Constitution of India provides for six Fundamental Rights
• Right to Constitutional Remedies
• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Right against Exploitation
• Cultural and Educational Rights
• Under the Indian Constitution, all citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression
• Freedom means absence of constraints
• Freedom of speech and expression is essential in any democracy
• Citizens have the right to hold meetings, processions, rallies, and demonstrations on any issue
• Citizens can form associations to promote their interests or campaign for causes
• Citizens have the freedom to travel throughout the country, reside in any part of the country, and choose any profession or occupation
• No person can be deprived of life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law
• A person who is arrested and detained in custody must be informed of the reasons for the arrest and detention
• A person who is arrested and detained must be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest
• A person who is arrested and detained has the right to consult or engage a lawyer for their defense
• Cases of Guantanamo Bay and Kosovo involved a threat to the protection of individual life and personal liberty
• The government of India banned Salman Rushdie's book "Satanic Verses" for being disrespectful to Prophet Mohammed and likely to hurt the feelings of the Muslim community
• Every film must be approved by the Censor Board before being shown to the public
• The government is considering a proposal to establish industrial zones where workers will not be allowed to form unions or go on strike
• City administration imposed a ban on the use of public microphones after 10 p.m. due to approaching secondary school examinations
• The Constitution prohibits 'traffic in human beings', forced labor or "begar", and child labor
• Traffic refers to selling and buying of human beings, usually women, for immoral purposes
• Forced labor or "begar" is when a worker is forced to render service to the 'master' free of charge or at a nominal remuneration