How have free speech and freedom of the press become a target for Islamic extremists?

Answer 1

Infringing free speech and/or free press restricts the free exchange of thoughts, ideas and opinion in a society. Once open and free discussion and debate of competing of various ideas are restricted or banned, only the "official" idea, thought or opinion is acceptable. Any deviation from the accepted is a threat to the whole. Historically, that is how oppression begins.

Curtailment or restrictions on speech or press have occurred only in countries where political or religious extremists (whether Islamic or not) control or have undue influence on the central government, or the extremists have their own physical power to force their restrictions on the populace.