Minority voice is one you should always protect: Amal Clooney

New Delhi, March 19 

Renowned lawyer and activist Amal Clooney on Friday asserted that minority voice should always be protected in a society advocating a free speech.

"The minority voice is the one you should always protect a society that advocates a free speech. Countries must allow criticism of its rulers, governments and religion,” Clooney said addressing a session at India 
Today Conclave.

"Locking up a dissenter will not stifle dissent. In fact it will fester it further. For India. using sedition law against students would be a step in the wrong direction,” she added.

Clooney added that sedition is an anachronistic crime but it is unfortunate if a country starts using it more actively.

"I hope we could have a healthy debate on the freedom of speech in India since it is well placed for such discussion,” Clooney said insisting free speech is not only a human right but also an essence of being human.

Clooney is a British-Lebanese lawyer, who has fought the case of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, in his fight against extradition. She has also represented the Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fahmy who was jailed during the Arab Spring for expressing dissent against the then Egyptian government. She is married to popular Hollywood actor George Clooney.ed Fahmy who was jailed during the Arab Spring for expressing dissent against the then Egyptian government.