A central component of liberal democracy, free speech faces challenges from all directions, from Islamist death sentences to the ‘no platform’ movement in universities, writes TP O’Mahony

The Stateside singing group endeared themselves to the world - well, all of it outside the US of A - when they launched a telling attack on President Bush for his invasion of Iraq.

COUNTRY music band the Dixie Chicks, who sparked controversy when they denounced President George W Bush, yesterday hit back at critics through a nude appearance on the cover of a US magazine.

A member of Texas-based band Dixie Chicks said she received death threats after the group spoke out against the Iraq war and US President George Bush.