Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes Are Choking Freedom Worldwide (100 page)

114
. “Leader of British Far-right Party Arrested,”
AP
, December 14, 2004,
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bnp-official-arrested-over-claims-he-threatened-to-kill-nick-griffin-1936014.html
; Rod Liddle, “Alas, I Must Defend the BNP,”
The Sunday Times
(London), February 5, 2006,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rod_liddle/article726871.ece
.

115
. Andrew Norfolk, “BNP Chief Claims Acquittal Is His Victory for Freedom,”
The Times
, November 11, 2006,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article633564.ece
.

116
. “Austrian Politician Threatened after Anti-Islam Comments: Ministry,”
AFP
, January 15, 2008,
http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademia/framedo?tokenKey=rsh-20.744796507875964.html
; “Austria Politician Gets Threats for Anti-Islam rant,”
Al Arabiya News
, January 16, 2008,
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/01/16/44271.html
; “Austrian Court Rejects Venue Change for Trial of Politician Who Disparaged Prophet Muhammad,”
AP
, May 16, 2008,
http://austriantimes.at/index.php?id=6017&print=1-newentry
; “Austrian Far-right Legislator Convicted of Anti-Muslim Incitement,”
Earth Times
, January 22, 2009,
http://www.topnews.in/node/113757/list
.

117
. Christian Wienberg, “Danish Lawmakers Reported to Police for Remarks on Muslim Veils,”
Bloomberg
, April 20, 2007,
http://blog.taragana.com/politics/2010/01/28/denmark-urges-full-use-of-rules-limiting-muslim-face-veil-says-no-ban-needed-15717/
; “Danish MP Who Compared Muslim Veil to Swastika Escapes Charges,”
AFP
, September 24, 2007,
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/09/24/39530.html
.

118
. Simon Bradley, “Anti-racism Body Slams Minaret Posters,”
SwissInfo.ch
, October 7, 2009,
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Specials/Minaret_Debate/Result_and_reactions/Anti-racism_body_slams_minaret_posters.html?cid=45310
; Michael Soukup, “Why the Swiss Are Afraid of Minarets,”
Spiegel Online
, October 13, 2009,
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,654963,00.html
.

119
. “Sweden Democrat Leader Reported for ‘Hate Speech,’”
The Local
(Sweden), October 20, 2009,
http://www.thelocal.se/22762/20091020
; “Politician Calls Islam Threat to Sweden,”
United Press International
, October 19, 2009,
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2009/10/19/Politician-calls-Islam-threat-to-Sweden/UPI-53791255969898/
;
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/eur/136060.htm
; “Sweden Democrats Lash Out Against Islam,” Sverige Radio, October 19, 2009,
http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/international/artikel.asp?ProgramID=166&Nyheter=1&artikel=3177393
. On a German case, see “German Central Bank Disempowers Board Member over Racist Remarks,”
Deutsche Welle
, October 13, 2009,
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4787728,00.html
.

120
. “C4 ‘Distorted’ Mosque Program,”
BBC News
, August 8, 2007,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/6936681.stm
.

121
. “Mosque Programme Claims Rejected,”
BBC News
, November 19, 2007,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7101728.stm
.

122
. “Police Apologise over Mosque Show,”
BBC News
, May 15, 2008,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7401704.stm
.

123
. Pierre-Antoine Souchard, “French Author on Trial for Anti-Islam Comments,”
AP
, September 17, 2002,
http://vigilant.tv/article/2189/upi-french-author-on-trial-for-islam-slurs
; Philip Delves Broughton, “Writer Defends Right to Call Islam ‘Stupid,’”
Telegraph
(U.K.), September 18, 2002,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/1407582/Writer-defends-right-to-call-Islam-stupid.html
; Pierre-Antoine Souchard, “French Court Throws Out Suit Against Writer’s Remarks on Islam,”
AP
, October 22, 2002; Joseph Coleman, “Trial of French Author Raises Questions about Freedom of Expression,”
AP
, October 23, 2002.

124
. “German Man Convicted of Disturbing Peace by Printing Name of Quran on Toilet Paper,”
AP
, February 23, 2006,
http://sheikyermami.com/2008/01/08/german-businessman-who-printed-name-of-quran-on-toilet-paper-will-face-trial/
; “Man Who Made ‘Koran’ Toilet Paper Escapes Jail,”
Irish Times
, February 24, 2006.

125
. As quoted in “Dutchman Acquitted of Insulting Islam,”
NRC Handelsblad
, March 10, 2009,
http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2176521.ece/Dutchman_acquitted_of_insulting_Islam
.

126
. Ms. Sabaditsch-Wolff was interviewed in Vienna by Nina Shea on May 9, 2010, and, through email correspondence, on February 23, 2011.

127
. Public Order Act 1986,
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1986/cukpga_19860064_en_2#pt1-l1g6
; Crime and Security Act 2001,
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2001/ukpga_20010024_en_5#pt5-l1g39
. The latter act amended the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which established categories of “racially aggravated” offenses, to include religion as well.

128
. Paul Bracchi, “It May Have Been a Victory for Free Speech, but Why Did Breakfast Insult of Muslim’s Faith Case Ever Come to Court?”
Daily Mail
, December 10, 2009,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1234680/It-victory-free-speech-did-breakfast-insult-Muslims-faith-case-come-court.html#
; Jonathan Wynne-Jones, “Christian Hoteliers Received Violent Threats Over Muslim Guest ‘Insult,’”
Telegraph
(U.K.), December 12, 2009,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6796508/Christian-hoteliers-received-violent-threats-over-Muslim-guest-insult.html
. Also in Liverpool, atheist Harry Taylor left leaflets at the airport mocking Jesus, the pope, and Islam and was given an “Anti-Social Behaviour Order” that forbade him from carrying religiously offensive material in a public place, as well as a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to perform community service and pay costs. “Atheist Given Asbo for Leaflets Mocking Jesus,”
Telegraph
, April 23, 2010,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7624578/Atheist-given-Asbo-for-leaflets-mocking-Jesus.html
.

129
. “Inmate Sues to Stop Use of Alpha Course in Jail,” news brief,
Charisma
,
http://oralroberts.charismamag.com/index.php/component/content/article/232-unorganized/11308-news-briefs
.

130
. “Catholics Back Muslim Claims Against Evangelical Christians,”
Catholic News
, March 22, 2005; Sarah Left, “Australian Ministry Vilified Muslims, Court Rules,”
The Guardian
, December 17, 2004,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/dec/17/australia.religion
.

131
. Cardinal George Pell, “Religious Vilification,”
Our People
, July 3, 2005,
http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/people/archbishop/stc/2005/200573_1095.shtml
; see also Andrew West, “Religious Leaders Unite to Fight Vilification Laws,”
Sydney Morning Herald
, April 23, 2009,
http://www.smh.com.au/national/religious-leaders-unite-to-fight-vilification-laws-20090422-affp.html?page=-1
. For Forsyth, see “Pastors Reject Apology Order over Koran Comments,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, June 22, 2005,
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1397914.htm
.

132
. The full text of Butler’s article is at
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2274
.

133
. Henri Astier, “Speech Row Rocks Multi-ethnic Canada,”
BBC News
, March 24, 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7273870.stm
.

134
. “MCC Shocked at OHRC Decision to Trumpet Islamist Cause,” Muslim Canadian Congress, April 9, 2008,
http://ezralevant.com/Statement%20on%20OHCR%20Macleans%20complaint.pdf
; Randall Palmer, “Muslims Test Press Freedom Limits in Canadian Case,” Reuters, January 6, 2008; “Rights Commission Dismisses Complaint Against Maclean’s,”
CBC News
, June 28, 2008; Brian Hutchinson, “The Court of Last Resort,”
National Post
, June 3, 2008; Mohamed Elmasry, Complaint Form, BC Human Rights Tribunal,
http://www.steynonline.com/images/macleans%20hr%20bc%20elmasry.pdf
; Joseph Brean, “Maclean’s Wins Third Round of Hate Fight,”
National Post
, October 11, 2008,
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=874166
.

135
. Canadian Human Rights Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. H-6,
http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-h-6/latest/rsc-1985-c-h-6.html
; Alan Borovoy, “Hearing Complaint Alters Rights Body’s Mandate,”
The Calgary Herald
, March 16, 2006,
http://www.safs.ca/issuescases/aborovoy.html
.

136
. Response to Stanley Kurtz, “Not Without a Fight,” in
The New Criterion
(Summer 2008 supp.): 15.

137
. Borovoy, “Hearing Complaint Alters Rights Body’s Mandate.”

138
. Colin Perkel, “Investigators Hijacked Internet Link, Man Alleges,”
The Globe and Mail
, April 3, 2008,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article677447.ece
; Charlie Gillis, “Righteous Crusader or Civil Rights Menace?”
Macleans
, April 9, 2008,
http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20080409_48864_48864&page=1
.

139
. Athanasios D. Hadjis,
Richard Warman (Complainant) and Canadian Human Rights Commission (Commission) and Marc Lemire (Respondent)
, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, September 2, 2009,
http://chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/aspinc/search/vhtml-eng.asp?doid=981&lg=_e&isruling=0#1011252
.

140
. Joseph Brean, “Hate Speech Law Unconstitutional: Rights Tribunal,”
National Post
, September 2, 2009,
http://www.nationalpost.com/story-printer.html?id=1954734
; Karen Kleiss, “Complaints Against Alberta Newspapers Dismissed by Human Rights Commission,”
Edmonton
Journal, September 23, 2009,
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Complaints+against+Alberta+newspapers+dismissed+human+rights+commission/2025833/story.html
; Deborah Tetley, “Alberta Judge Rules in Favor of Author of Anti-gay Letter,”
National Post
, December 5, 2009,
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=2305614&s=Today%27s%20Newspaper
. On May 26, 2010, Judge Lusting suspended a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal hearing until the status of the section was clarified, see
http://chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/aspinc/search/vhtml-eng.asp?doid=1012&lg=_e&isruling=0
.

141
. Brendan Carlin, “Hatred Bill goes ahead despite Church protests,”
Telegraph
, July 12, 2005,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1493826/Hatred-Bill-goes-ahead-despite-Church-protests.html
.

142
. “New Effort to Ban Religious Hate,”
BBC News
, June 11, 2005,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4075442.stm
; “Britain’s ‘Mr. Bean’ Attacks Religious Hatred Bill,”
New York Times
, December 6, 2004,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charles-moore/3613495/Is-it-only-Mr-Bean-who-resists-this-new-religious-intolerance.html
;
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldhansrd/vo051011/text/51011-04.htm
.

143
. “Muslim Poll—November 2004,”
The Guardian
/ICM, p. 12,
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2004/11/30/Muslims-Nov041.pdf
.

144
. Will Cummins, “We Must Be Allowed to Criticize Islam,”
Telegraph
(U.K.), July 12, 2004,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3608288/We-must-be-allowed-tocriticise-Islam.html
.

145
. Edward Black, “Blackadder’s Deadly Serious Attack on ‘Religious Hate’ Bill,”
The Scotsman
, December 7, 2004,
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118652185/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
; David Hencke, “Celebrities Join Fight to Amend Bill on Religious Hatred,”
The Guardian
, June 21, 2005,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/jun/21/religion.immigrationpolicy
.

146
. Sarah Hall and Tania Branigan, “Law to Safeguard Religion Is No Joke, Warns Blackadder,”
The Guardian
, December 7, 2004,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/dec/07/raceandreligion.broadcasting
.

147
. “New Effort to Ban Religious Hate.”

148
. Jon Ungoed-Thomas, “Witches See an Opportunity in New Hate Bill,”
The Times
, October 23, 2005.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article581694.ece
.

149
. “Silence, Blasphemers,”
The Economist
, June 25, 2005,
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133548709.html
; Brendan Carlin, “Hatred Bill Goes ahead Despite Church Protests,”
Telegraph
, July 12, 2005,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1493826/Hatred-Bill-goes-ahead-despite-Church-protests.html
; “Free Speech v. Religion,”
The Economist
, December 9, 2004,
http://www5.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=2743324&story_id=E1_PQSSRTG
.