Thursday, May 8, 2008

Wonderful news

Senators Arlen Specter and Joe Lieberman, along with Representative Peter King, have introduced draft legislation entitled the Free Speech Protection Act of 2008. The bill would protect American journalists from libel suits brought in foreign courts that do not have the protections for free speech that the U.S. Constitution provides. According to Specter, "[t]here is a real danger that American writers and researchers will be afraid to address the crucial subject of terror funding and other important matters without these protections." Lieberman warned against the dangers inherent in using the courts to "chill inquiry and research."

The impetus for this legislation was the case of Rachel Ehrenfeld, who in 2003 wrote Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It. She was sued for libel in England, even though only 23 copies of her books were sold there, where libel laws are much more favorable to the plaintiff.

Still further legislation will be required to protect people against 'lawfare' - being intimidated or silenced by the threat of lawsuits - for writing about radical Islam. However, this is an excellent start.

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