UNM Israel Alliance

Of interest to attorneys and law students:

Offered by the Legal Project (in Philadelphia)

SUING THE MESSENGER: The Misuse of Law to Suppress Free Speech Regarding Terrorism, Radical Islam and Related Topics.

Dates/Times: Thursday, May 10, 2012 (5:30-7:00)

Thursday, May 17, 2012 (12:00-1:30)

Place: Philadelphia, specific location to be announced.

Registration: Please register in advance by emailing Ann Snyder (Snyder@meforum.org). Seating is very limited.

Additional Information for Attorneys: Approval for 1.5 substantive CLE credits (Pennsylvania) is pending.

Admission Fee and Waiver: $20. Attorneys unable to afford the entry fee may request a waiver by emailing Snyder@meforum.org at least three days prior to the actual course presentation. The request must include the attorney’s place of employment (if working); yearly salary (if applicable); and a phone number at which the attorney may be contacted. A decision will be made at least one day prior to the event.

Course description – This 1.5 hour course examines the misuse of law to suppress the free speech rights of authors and researchers commenting on terrorism, radical Islam and related issues.

Public discourse on these issues has long been hampered by physical intimidation such as the gruesome murder of Theo van Gogh and the Mohammed Cartoons riots. But over the last decade, a more subtle challenge has emerged in the form of predatory lawsuits. These suits seek less to win than to wear down researchers and analysts who, even when they prevail, pay heavily in time and money.

Relying largely on legal case studies, the course will establish the threat, document its manifestations across the globe and discuss ways to meet it. While the primary focus will be on manipulation of US libel law to stifle debate, attention will also be brought upon efforts to conscript Canadian, European and even International law in the service of suppression.

Part I will define the problem and illustrate the emergence of predatory suits as a strategy. Part II will offer an overview of US libel law and then describe how it is being misused to stifle fair discussion of terror financing and related issues. Part III focuses on Britain’s plaintiff friendly libel laws and the various ways they have been used to chill both UK and US authors. Part IV examines the emergence of Canadian administrative tribunals as instruments of censorship. Part V analyzes challenges to free speech posed by Europe’s hate speech laws. Part VI examines the cynical manipulation of international human rights laws to suppress open dialogue through such mechanisms as UN resolutions prohibiting blasphemy. The final two sections survey the overall success of campaigns to inhibit debate on radical Islam and the response of governments, entities and individuals dedicated to defending free speech rights.

How can you have productive discussions about solutions, unless it’s based on the truth? What is the point of catering to the “Palestinian” demands, that are based on an open lie? Why would they found their demands on a lie, if their cause were just?

Instead of improving anything, this Palestinian lie and jihad creates violence and injustice.

Here, the Hamas Interior minister hysterically reminds Egypt that Palestinians, whether in Gaza or elsewhere are no different than other Arabs: they come from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, wherever. He reminds Egypt that the money they get is to be used for jihad against Israel and the US, not for personal luxuries…

From April 16-18 (Monday through Wednesday), the Israel Alliance put up the “Wall of Truth”, which lists and briefly debunks 10 common anti-Israel statements.

Thanks to all the Israel Alliance members and friends, and even passers-by who came and helped out, all who stopped by and read the wall, all who gave us the thumbs up and thanks for standing up for Israel, and all who took the time to stop and discuss the issues, whether they went away convinced or not. Thanks also to the Horowitz Freedom Center Campus group who donated the “Wall of Truth” to the Israel Alliance.

Our “Wall of Truth” was in response to a week long display of “mock walls” by the Students for Justice in Palestine and allied groups such as the Muslim Student Association, MEChA, SOAP, Amnesty International and many others. The Israel related walls called for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, to “Free Palestine”, which is a call for the end of the Jewish State, and the standard rather ignorant accusation that Israel practices “apartheid”. Apartheid was a South African social/government/legal system which doesn’t apply to Israel. However the claim is used to arouse older people, who were alive when protests against South Africa were held, to feel falsely outraged and energized about Israel, and has been adopted as a common buzz-word in anti-Israel circles.

Several people were interested in having the text of the 10 Myths shown on the wall. Here is the link.

After two days of worshipful coverage of SJP’s mock walls, the Daily Lobo gave in to pressure and put a picture of our Wall of Truth on the front page of the Lobo. The caption was short and inaccurate, the photo was borrowed, and no reporter from the Lobo stopped by our exhibit during the three days it was up. However, that was still better than what the Lobo usually does. In all fairness, the Daily Lobo is a learning experience for journalism students and can not be expected to adhere to professional journalistic or ethical standards.

The Full Lobo Article about the Wall of Truth