The greatest threat to free speech is self-censorship

Later, Hezbollah claimed that the list was found on Israeli computers confiscated by Hamas during its 7 October attack, alleging that those listed were on the payroll of Israel's Mossad.

This claim is an attempt to vilify and intimidate anyone with an opposing view as a way to avoid engaging in genuine debate.

One such example occurred at the American University in Beirut, where a seminar titled Ethics of War in Gaza was cancelled.

The seminar was due to feature Alec Walen, a law and philosophy professor from Rutgers University, and Bashshar Haydar, a philosophy professor at the American University.

The cancellation, justified by the university as a response to security threats, was seen as yielding to groups aligned with the 'Axis of Resistance' and Hezbollah, who are opposed to dissenting discussions.

Intellectual cowardice

The university's cancellation echoes George Orwell's "intellectual cowardice".

Yet most of those targeted by defamation lawsuits, accusations of collaboration, and death threats for their stance on Hamas's operation have not succumbed to such cowardice. 

Instead, they have courageously defended their views despite the significant personal risks involved.

Intellectual cowardice that manifests as self-censorship can pose an even more insidious threat than overt government censorship.

It can lead to stagnation, replication, and the suppression of opinions that diverge from accepted narratives. The space for new ideas shrinks. Writing or speaking becomes a quest for applause or 'likes'.

How can a writer or influencer claim courage while muzzling their own opinion? What legacy can they leave if they never truly speak their truth?

Revolution against oppressive regimes will not lead to true freedom if we suppress our thoughts and show intolerance towards dissenting voices that exceed the limitations of dictatorial regimes.

In short, Orwell was right.