Recent statements in Parliament about a MP being "a child of rape," etc, have pushed me as a layman to check the Constitution of this land. Section 55 (1) and (2) state "there shall be freedom of speech..." and "no civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted..." in Parliament. This, therefore, gives each MP protection for what he/she says.
Section 4 (i) of this same Constitution says that all citizens have "freedom of thought and expression" which in my opinion can mean speech–in and out of Parliament. Section 4 (b) further guarantees "the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law."Why is there libel law for statements made outside of Parliament but no libel laws for statements made in Parliament? Is this the equality before the law and protection of the law that was envisioned? This indeed contributes to some cognitive dissonance.
B Smith
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