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The OSCE: Yet Another Avenue for Islamists to Control Speech

Although more attention goes to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) prominent attempts to police speech in Western nations regarding Islam-related topics through the UN and the "Istanbul Process", Muslim and Islamist desires to restrict critical speech concerning Islam-related topics and promote a positive image of their religion have also played a role in yet another international organization's efforts to address the debate about Islam and Muslims. On October 28, 2011, a conference, titled: "Confronting Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims in Public Discourse," was held at the Vienna headquarters of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The OSCE is an international grouping encompassing 56 states from North America (Canada and the United States), Europe, and the former Soviet Union. At this conference the Danish-Pakistani general-secretary of the Initiative of European Muslims for Social Cohesion (Die Initiative Europäischer Muslime für Sozialen Zusammenhalt or IEMSZ), Bashy Quraishi, called for "guidelines against Islamophobia in public discourse" and stated that "freedom of speech in Europe entails responsibility, something often forgotten by political leaders and journalists." Also, General Quraishi as well as numerous other participants at the conference extolled the civilizational contributions of Islam – and Muslims – to humanity. Perhaps not too surprisingly in this politically correct world, in the end the OSCE seemingly acceded to Quraishi's desire to protect Muslims from insulting speech and promote a positive view of Islam.

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By Andrew E. Harrod and Adam Turner | February 3, 2012 at 4:59 pm | Permalink

North American Muslims Join Effort to Support Husain Haqqani

Politics can be a dangerous business in Pakistan.

As the "memogate" controversy shows no signs of abating, a group of American and Canadian Muslims joined the push for U.S. government intervention on behalf of Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. In a January 12^th letter to Secretary of State Clinton, the group called upon the Secretary and the Obama administration to "let Pakistan's military chief General Kayani and ISI boss General Pasha know that they will be held responsible for any harm that comes to Ambassador Haqqani."

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By Ann Snyder | January 23, 2012 at 2:28 pm | Permalink

Update on State Department-OIC Conference in DC: "The Istanbul Process"

The Legal Project recently reported that the Obama Administration would be holding meetings this week in Washington on "implementing" UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18. (See Why is the Obama Administration Giving the OIC a Say in Our Right to Free Speech?) On December 13^th, Nina Shea, Director of Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, reported on the first session of the three-day, closed-to-the-public conference called "The Istanbul Process."

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By Ann Snyder | December 13, 2011 at 7:37 pm | Permalink

Why is the Obama Administration Giving the OIC a Say in Our Right to Free Speech?

Starting on December 12^th in Washington, DC, a meeting is being held that jeopardizes freedom of speech as we currently understand it in the United States. The Obama Administration has invited the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation ("OIC," formerly, The Organization of the Islamic Conference) to a meeting of "experts" to discuss the implementation of a UN resolution ostensibly targeting "religious intolerance." Now, even if by combating "religious intolerance" the resolution were just targeting actual violations of freedom of religion (READ: violating rights, not hurting feelings), it still should raise a few eyebrows that the OIC is behind the resolution and was invited as a partner to these meetings. The Jeddah-based OIC includes as its members such "champions" of human rights and religious freedom and tolerance as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Iran.

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By Ann Snyder | December 10, 2011 at 2:27 pm | Permalink

GMU Law Holds its Ground on Free Speech

At a time when many educational institutions have succumbed to mildewing political correctness and cower in the face of pressure to censor controversial speech, at least one school still maintains free and open debate on campus. That school is George Mason University School of Law. We applaud the school and its dean for their unequivocal and brave stance.

"GMU should be proud that the dean of its law school has issued such a strong statement defending freedom of expression," said Adam Kissel of The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

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By Ann Snyder | October 4, 2011 at 2:03 pm | Permalink

Geert Wilders' Acquittal: An Important First Step for Free Speech in the Netherlands

On June 23^rd, the Amsterdam District Court acquitted Dutch MP Geert Wilders, bringing to a close a nearly two-year ordeal. The decision was a clear victory for Wilders who had faced both fines and imprisonment for charges of "group defamation" and "incitement to hatred and to discrimination" on the basis of religion and race under article 137c and 137d of the Dutch Penal Code (DPC).

"I am delighted with this ruling," said Wilders. "It is a victory, not only for me, but for all the Dutch people. Today is a victory for freedom of speech."

Wilders is right. The verdict is a win not only for him, but also for free speech generally. The Dutch court—and the Dutch Supreme Court that set important precedent—protected free expression in the face of a censorial "hate speech" statute. At the very same time, this case is a perfect example of the dangers and pitfalls of such "hate speech" laws, demonstrating that while these provisions remain in force, Holland has a way to go to re-claim free expression—as do other European Union countries with such laws.

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By Debra L. Feuer | September 24, 2011 at 6:23 pm | Permalink

Wilders in Wonderland

At Big Peace, Ned May imaginatively compared the Austrian "hate speech" trial of Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff for her comments regarding Islam to the infamous Trial of the Stolen Tarts, in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This fictional trial is a hyperbolic vision of a "kangaroo court," meaning "1) a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted" or 2) a court characterized by irresponsible, unauthorized, or irregular status or procedures…".

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By Adam Turner | June 10, 2011 at 3:24 pm | Permalink

Another Bite at the Apple: Hedegaard Found Guilty

Last week, Lars Hedegaard, president and founder of the Danish and International Free Press Societies was convicted of "hate speech" under Article 266 b of the Danish penal code and fined the equivalent of about $1000. (See IFPS's press release here.) Beyond being an appalling assault on freedom of speech, if the conviction strikes you as a bit odd, perhaps it should. Just this past March, the Legal Project published an interview with Hedegaard following his acquittal on the very same charges. (Note: In December 2010, Danish MP, Jesper Langballe, of the Danish People's Party "confessed" to violating the same provision for remarks made in support of Hedegaard.)

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By Ann Snyder | May 10, 2011 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

It's Time to Take a Stand for Free Speech

In 2011, fringe Florida Pastor Terry Jones finally burned a Koran in Florida. He had first threatened to burn a Koran the year before but had been persuaded to desist by the pleas of numerous prominent Americans, especially members of our governing elite. However, perhaps bothered by his loss of public attention since then, Jones followed through with his original threat on March 20, 2011. Less than two weeks later, Afghanis learned of the incident after President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan – either wilfully or recklessly – publicly condemned the Koran-burning. Soon after that, his state employed radical Islamist Imams began to preach to the religious Afghani community, whipping them into a frenzy of anti-Americanism. Predictably, these Afghanis began to look for Americans to punish, and finding that the only Americans in the country were armed soldiers, they chose to broaden their anger to include less menacing Western targets. After more than a week of rioting, this government and Islamist instigated catastrophe has resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, including the massacre of seven UN civilians, two of whom were beheaded, and there was widespread destruction in Afghanistan's major cities. Ironically, it has also resulted in the burning of multiple Korans.

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By Adam Turner | April 29, 2011 at 2:56 pm | Permalink

February was Hate Speech Month in Europe

February 2011 apparently was "Hate Speech Month in Europe," as a trio of "hate speech" trials in Europe made some big news. On February 15, Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff (ESW) was found guilty of hate speech against religion in Austria because of statements she made in a series of seminars about the dangers of Sharia law.

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By Adam Turner | March 14, 2011 at 2:05 pm | Permalink