Law firm hired to intimidate Danish and world media.
Here is a link to a Danish site which has a viewer for the three pages of the original legal letter sent to Berlingske Tidende, which, as a point of interest, is the ninth oldest newspaper on planet earth. It would be a significant victory for Islamist lawfare, if this newspaper is silenced and cowed as is requested. Gates of Vienna has written an excellent oped piece on this issue as well. This is a very similar tactic as was attempted on Ezra Levant in Canada when he published the ‘Danish Cartoons’ through the Canadian Human Rights tribunals, as well as tried on Mark Steyn and Mcleans Magazine for quoting various European Islamic leaders. In both cases, the defendants fought back and won, however the cost and damage taken by them made it purely a Pyrrhic victory.
Screen cap of letterhead of law firm sueing Danish paper
In this case, it is through a real court where actual rules of evidence and law apply. The consequences to freedom of speech worldwide will be felt should Denmark lose.
The essence of this document, is that a law firm was hired by ‘descendants of Mohamed’ who are threatening to sue if the newspaper does not in essence pillory itself for republication of the Danish ‘Moetoons’, sign documents that it will never do anything like this again, and remove all images from any and all websites it has influence over:
It goes on to say, that a law suit will result if all the terms and conditions of this surrender of freedom of speech are not met, and hints at other aspects of Danish-Islamic relations not specifically part of the suit, but should be factored in to any descision made on this matter:
Please do go over to this site and read the entire three page demand. This is an issue that must be followed closely. It will set precedents far and wide by media across the world.
One also wonders, to what extent is the right to insult irrational religious authority on any terms fundamental to a free, secular, and truly progressive state.
James Cohen
Comments
By M.K.J. on August 30th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Why on EARTH aren’t there any counterattacks from the West? Let the West hire the best lawyers in the world and sue islamist countrys for human rights abuse!!!
By James Cohen on August 30th, 2009 at 7:05 am
In what court? The worlds worst human rights abusers always make sure they are in control of the UNHRC for the express purpose of avoiding any potential exposure of said rights. Go to UN Watch web site and have a look at some of the videos. I have had the pleasure of attending a lecture and meeting Hillel Nuer, the prime mover at UN Watch, and had quite an educational experience. As I see it, there is no actual body on earth that can be used to discuss human rights in the Islamic world short of NATO and NATO is not what it used to be.
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