Posted on 02/26/2009 4:19:09 AM PST by Man50D
Troubled by attacks on free expression by groups wanting to shield Islam from criticism or scrutiny, free speech advocates are preparing to unveil a campaign for an “international First Amendment.”
The initiative will be launched by the International Free Press Society (IFPS) at an event in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Attending will be Geert Wilders, the Dutch lawmaker whose views on Islam have stoked controversy worldwide.
The event will incorporate a screening of Wilders’ short documentary, Fitna, which features passages from the Koran along with footage of terror attacks and jihadists extolling violence while quoting from Islam’s revered text.
The film has been viewed by millions online, but recent attempts to show it at the European Parliament ran into difficulties, and Wilders was refused entry into Britain earlier this month to attend a screening at the House of Lords. The British government said he “would threaten community security and therefore public security.”
A closed screening for U.S. lawmakers has been arranged at the Capitol building on Thursday, hosted by Republican Senator Jon Kyl.
Recent years have seen an escalating drive by Islamic countries, working through the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), to counter what they regard as blasphemy – anything calling into question the assertion that Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion.
Seeking to make it more difficult for people to challenge or criticize Islam, the OIC is promoting resolutions at the U.N. against “religious defamation,” based in part on the argument that anti-Islamic sentiment is a “contemporary form of racism.”
In a number of Islamic countries, blasphemy laws are enforced, often targeting Muslims who convert to another faith and are considered apostates under Islamic law (shari’a), but also anyone who questions Islamic teaching or practices associated with Islam.
In non-Muslim countries, especially in the West, “hate speech” regulations are sometimes used to similar effect, and Wilders himself is due to stand trial in the Netherlands soon on charges of “inciting hatred and discrimination.”
Center for Security Policy President Frank Gaffney, who will take part in the IFPS event, is scheduled to “discuss the dangers to America’s national security and civil liberties imposed by global oppression of free speech.”
“The insinuation of shari’a legal codes and practices into free world societies includes the effort to impose shari’a blasphemy, slander and libel laws in the West,” he said in a statement announcing the event.
“According to shari’a, it is impermissible to engage in speech or writings that ‘defame’ Islam or otherwise offend its followers. We must oppose all these efforts.”
In its “international First Amendment” campaign, the IFPS will push for a ban on hate speech laws.
IFPS president Lars Hedegaard, a Danish historian and journalist, said these laws, common in many European countries, are vague and unequally applied, and should be repealed.
“The way to deal with controversial, offensive or even hateful statements – unless they are directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action – is to expose them to public debate and criticism,” he said.
I will admit that I read this quickly because I’m on my way out the door, so forgive me if I misunderstand something. While on the surface, this seems like a great idea. But, who would enforce it? I don’t like the idea of any kind of international law because it requires enforcement from an entity outside of one’s country, doesn’t it? Or are they just trying to get this kind of law pass in each country individually?
This will go over great in China!
I don't think the UN could be bothered to promote additional freedom. It's not what they're about.
Instead, they'll pass the ban on "appearing to be intolerant of islam" resolution the other side is demanding.
There can’t be a real First Amendment without a Second Amendment to protect it!
You can start with reaffirming the concept that people have the right to speak their mind, then they can figure out how to secure that right.
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