The jihad of the word

Glazed Over

An uncomfortable fact:

The "hate speech" laws Muslims are exploiting were introduced with the full backing of Jewish groups. See discussion by one of Mark Steyn's most prominent Jewish supporters and remember that what he says applies to the UK too, mutatis mutandis:

http://ezralevant.com/2008/06/jews-and-censorship.html

Glazed Over

P.S. When Melanie writes this:

"As the pressure group Liberty and its latter-day prophet David Davis prance about Britain with their preposterous assertion that extending detention for terror suspects will destroy ancient liberties, we might well ask why not a peep has been heard from them about the real threat to freedom from the jihad of the word."

She obviously doesn't understand what DD meant here:

"The state has security powers that clamp down on peaceful protest, and so-called hate laws that stifle legitimate debate - while those inciting violence get off scot-free."

He's clearly referring to the Muslim preachers in the notorious C4 mosque documentary case.

http://www.daviddavisforfreedom.com/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.rlczcolekxitofel

Roslyn Pine

As we all know only too well, the "libertarians" prefer the easy targets with which to flaunt their humanitarian credentials. Sooner, rather than later, however, it will be the innocent who will pay the price, with their freedoms and their lives, for this moral cowardice.

The outstanding Mark Steyn should be supported and applauded for his fearless defence of the truth.
He ought to be cloned!!

sean birnie

Mel, as much as I love you, and you are great, you are a bit late on this story. Ezra Levant (editor of Macleans) is the one to follow on this http://ezralevant.com/ . It's been all over the US blogosphere for months. If you love Melanie, you'll love Ezra, he's a tiger.

Hey, but well done for bringing this story to the terminally parochial Brits (I'm allowed to say that, being British myself).

These "Human Rights" commissars have been discussing the verdict for three weeks now. So what are they deliberating, whether Mark Steyn is actually guilty or not? No chance, they'd decided that long before their persecution began. No they're watching the firestorm they started and trying to figure out whether they'll look more stupid by finding him innocent or whether finding him guilty will cause more damage than it's worth. A Hobbsean choice if ever there was one. Personally I have no sympathy over the mess they've got themselves into.

Free Mark Steyn,

sean birnie

God how I hate these moderated blogs. How are you supposed to engage in dialogue while some junior journo flunky spends hours tring to decide whether your post is too unPC or not. This is why the old media is dying. I for one will shed no tears.

Melanie get a free uncensored blog, you are too valuable to be associated with these dinosaur media clowns

logdon

Not content with destroying the freedoms which would enable progress in the Middle East and Pakistan they turn the censorious sights on us. Following the removal of Muslims from Europe in the Middle Ages we experienced the greatest advance ever known in arts, science and politics. Without that Renaissance we'd all be living in primitive societies and it's foundation of building blocks enabled the later scientists, philosophers and doctors of the Enlightenment to propel us into the modern world. Meanwhile Islam, starved of ideas and initiative withered. Without western technology they'd still be the same. As an example of the cloying stranglehold of shariah how many books are read in Spain in a year compared to the whole of the Middle East right now? This is nothing less than blackmail enabled cultural imperialism with terror as it's weapon. I've followed the Steyn case (and also read the book in question). I've also followed similar in Canada with Ezra Levant as defendant and these cases defy all logic. Can't they see that this stifling and interfering with our liberty is the sharp prong of the Jihad? What in a coup do insurgents aim to control first? It's the media with it's power of influence. No need for the Islamic imperialists to do that when we do the job quite willingly for them. Like lemmings our PC police lead us to the precipice. Whether we jump is entirely up to us. The signs, though are improving in mainland Europe and it looks like the Danes and Dutch have had enough. The same seems to be emerging in Italy to much gnashing and wailing of Islamophobia. Let them wail, much is convoluted construct anyway when we examine the pitiful example of a few pictures compared to the beheading videos and vile anti semitic material available throughout Muslim lands. This has now reached a stage where we have to decide. For the Islamists intent on restoring the Caliphate there is no middle road. We have to take note or a bloody future awaits.

Pete Hoskin

sean birnie: I'm afraid we've been having some problems with the comments system recently, such that not all comments have been getting through.

If you feel some of yours aren't getting through, you're very welcome to e-mail them to me on phoskin @ spectator.co.uk and I'll post them manually for you.

Hope that helps.

Ed Jute

yes Melanie, I agree with Sean Birnie. I don't know (I hope) you get some recompense for being hosted here (although I doubt it) but I am itching to respond to Glazed Over rather pejoratively for his reading of the runes of "DD"'s banal statements. I'll settle for suggesting that Glazed Over (GO? or rather FO!) is diana-fying David Davis (if that isn't too many D's). The PODDS or the DDDDDS syndrome

sean birnie

Pete Hoskin, Thanks. I admit I was a bit harsh. It's just that I'm used to instant post with retrogressive censorship where a comment is deleted only if it is really beyond the pale. You guys are not so bad, hours was an exaggeration, minutes is closer to the truth. I'm a little impressed. And anyway, you feature Melanie, what could be better?

Harvey

Roslyn Pine speaks of 'the outstanding Mark Steyn'.

Oustandingly what?

I am so tempted...

Hysteria

Glazed - agree your comment re DD. I guess my concern is whether DD is being over-sold - unless he gets significant backing I can't see a one-man crusade getting anywhere.

Wait - I hear a knock at the door - probably the thought police coming at me for writing "crusade" - oops - done it again!

Bill M

Though several have already mentioned Ezra Levant, he was first in the fire with this bogus CHRC.

These "charges" have all been brought by the same crowd of offended "imams". They did not, however, understand that they were playing with fire and were thus exposed as liars and frauds. They quickly made retreat. This story has been going on for at least the past six months and it has been fascinating to follow. Though not hot off the press, it is worth following Levant and Steyn because of the inspiration it can provide to those who will face the same lunacy in the UK at some point in the future.

I highly recommend watching Ezra Levant on YouTube skewering Shirlene McGovern, the traitorous government hack "attorney" who attempted to expose his guilt. Ezra turned the table in a most mighty way to make a complete fool of this twit. (She ended up resigning). The whole series on YouTube is at once pathetic, humorous, and frightening. You may also view it at ezralevant.com.

It's great that Melanie has brought this to the fore. Please follow it. You will find that America is, in fact, alone. America owes a dept of gratitude to our Founding Fathers for their brilliant foresight and wisdom in ensuring the protection of free speech.

What will become of their brilliance once Obama is elected, or should the Supreme Court continue in its tragic ways, may put us in the same fateful barrel as our English speaking brethren to the North and overseas.

d1carter

Free Mark Steyn!!!

Bill M

Sean Birnie:

Ezra Levant is NOT editor of Macleans. He was publisher of the Western Standard, now online at westernstandard.ca.

Joe Camel

sean birnie, there seems to be a mix-up here. Ezra Levant and the editor of Macleans are both admirable journalists, but they are not the same person.

The editor of Macleans is Kenneth Whyte, who has thrown the magazine’s whole weight behind Mark Steyn in the current “Human Rights” show trials. Macleans is a weekly news magazine that has already celebrated its first centenary: it has been in circulation since 1905.

Ezra Levant launched a different magazine, called the Western Standard, in March 2004. Published in Calgary, Alberta, the Western Standard lasted only three and a half years, closing down in October 2007. It was a fortnightly, and achieved worldwide renown in February 2006 when it reprinted the Danish Mohammed cartoons.

Paul

Why be surprised at this? We lead the Canadians by light years. Even when the police are presented with incontrovertible evidence of crimes of religious hatred they persue C4 rather than these islamic preachers of hate. To think my taxes are paying these very lazy policmen to do nothing. Its absolute lunacy. Its no wonder people loath politicians as a waste of space and completely spineless. The law of the land is to be obeyed by all, no exceptions for any group. Otherwise there lies the road to anarchy.

Branston

The Islamic supremacists are engaged in a full-scale assault on freedoms long held sacrosanct by Western societies — part of the pincer movement previously described by Phillips where the jihadists nudge Western elites into the arms of the less than moderate Muslim Brethren.

The term or descriptor concept for this process may well be mudara: where Islamists create the conditions necessary to execute local and global jihad. Unfortunately for the West this approach would appear to lay claim to widespread approval in the Muslim world, despite vehement denials, which increasingly ring hollow.

I say mudara, you say peace.

EC

Freedom and free speech isn't free. Ours was paid for by others. It is has been the control freaks of New Labour and their prancing fool in chief, Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, that have been so keen to give it away. They have been aided and abetted by police snd security services that are politcally handicapped, badly managed and, arguably, underfunded.

Mark Steyn gets my vote.

Dhimmitude sucks

Ezra was hoping to be convicted by the kangaroo court, so that he could appeal to a real, higher, court. I guess Steyn might also want to follow the same route.

Might I suggest those who want to support Steyn go out and buy his book (I've just downloaded mine from audible - it's worth a read).

The UN is a joke. America and the UK should get out while the getting is good. The interests of the free world would be better served by an international body that actually has some standards of entry, such as free speech, free politics, free press.

Charlie

William Tyndale/Tindall/Tyndall was burnt at the stake for heresy. The crime was translating the New Testament from Latin into English which helped to reduce the power of the clergy. Tyndall wanted every plough boy to be able to read the Bible so they could make their own mind up. His books were burnt in Britain. The ability to read widely, discuss opinions and have them published are essential for a free society. It would appear that certain muslim groups and their supporters want to introduce the Inquisition back into Britain. If people are easily offended I suggest they spend some time working in the docks, on a construction site or on the markets: they would appear to be overly sensitive. Human Rights is rapidly becoming an oxymoron.The problem is that we lack lawyers who have an understanding of the eovolution of our laws and the freedoms of our country.It would appear that lawyers regard new legislation as a new way of making money. Consequently the arrival of human rights lawyers. All humans have rights under existing laws. This country has become far too complacent with regard to our hard won freedoms and it is time we stood and opposed those who would reduce our capacity for free speech.

Ann

Outstanding in telling the truth, Harvey, something you are clearly struggling with.

Alcuin

Thank you for this article, Melanie. We are in a war, the like of which we have not seen before, save perhaps for the smaller scale McCarthy era that shamed the USA. People in the West are not being killed in large numbers, but the struggle is no less important for that, as it is our very freedom, that most of us had thought was a given, which is at stake.

Islam has honed its weapons over 1400 years of assault on the West. Most of its "converts" were merely worn down by the institutional humiliation of dhimmitude, not by overt coercion. It is replete with the tools of subversion, and we have a lot to learn. Many of us have no appreciation of the unscrupulous tricks that are being rolled out to enslave us by stealth.

It is in the nature of man that only when catastrophe stares us in the face do we wake up. So, while the CHRC is an odious body with outrageous powers, it is necessary for this, and other, battles to be waged in order to wake us up to the threat.

I have come to the conclusion that the only tenable response to Islam (the doctrine - all of it, not the people) is total opposition, as have many others. It took a long time to get to such a position, but at the root of it is that without complete freedom of speech, we are hamstrung, and it is this very foundation of freedom that our enemy seeks to undermine.

Those who say that such freedom must always be moderated (such as not shouting "fire" in a theatre) miss the point. The Law, under which such behaviour would be censured, is there to protect people from physical or financial harm, not to protect ideas from scrutiny. In this latter, vital endeavour, there can be no valid legal restraint. Attempts to introduce such are the thin end of a very big wedge and should be vigorously opposed.

This country has, I believe, just removed the antiquarian Blasphemy Laws. Well and good, but such laws are thriving in parts of the world that many would like to see us emulate. In the hands of Islamists and our useful idiots, Human Rights legislation has become Blasphemy-lite.

Frank Pulley

The obvious answer to this is to seduce Mark Steyn back to the Spectator by any means necessary, where he can presumably write unfettered as he does in most of the other publications he still graces with his work. I am still waiting for the Speccie's explanation as to why he was sacked/let go/resigned or whatever. Presumably his loyalty to the ertwhile flamboyant owner of this magazine had something to do with it; be that's all we can do - presume. Moreover I have tried to raise his absence from this magazine many times, on the Spectator blogs but those posts always fall foul of this 'software glitch' that Pete mentions so often. And my letters to the editor on the subject don't get answered either. Ah Well! At least Melanie has at last been allowed to mention the hallowed name; and in support, too. Bravo Melanie! But though I agree with you on Davis's daft ploy, I still can't go with you on further extension of detention without charge, though it breaks my heart to have to break ranks with you on any march you initiate. Sorry to be disapprovingly avuncular on that one, but it is important not to be sucked into a political scam though I understand all your reasons for braving the vortex, it's just not the way to go.

micheal

Steyn on Iraq;

Two weeks after military operations began, Steyn wrote, “The war is over. … it's the Anglo-Aussie-American side who are the geniuses. Rumsfeld's view …has been vindicated…"

In 2004, he wrote;

“Last year I thought the Americans won an amazing military victory in Iraq, I don't think it's possible for anyone who looks at Iraq honestly to see it as anything other than a success story."

Enough said.

david skinner

But let us look to our own Council of Equality and Human Rights, headed by the Leninist, Sir Trevor Phillips.

In 2006 , Sir Trevor Phillips who is the chief commission for the Council of Equality and Human Rights, and around whose table Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, sits, said In the Times, February 26th, that non- Muslims must also accept the right of imams to denounce homosexuality in a way that many would find offensive. “One point of Britishness is that people can say what they like about the way we should live, however absurd, however unpopular it is…………”
“That’s why freedom of expression — including Muslim leaders’ right to say they think homosexuality is harmful — is absolutely precious.”

This statement cuts right across his current stance on promising to pursue anyone who criticises homosexual behaviour- even to the most remote corners of the British Isles.

If people never know, through using common sense and reason as to whether or not their remarks concerning either homosexuality or Islam will land them up before the Attorney General, many will not want the take that risk; they will censor themselves. But even remaining silent may not be enough to save someone from falling foul of the law. A person could be deemed as inciting hatred simply by remaining silent when expected to vocally and publicly endorse either Islam or homosexual behaviour. To remain seated, sitting on one’s hands when everyone else in standing ovation mode may well in the future not be an option. We will all be forced to publicly affirm and celebrate Islam and homosexual practice. In order to avoid fines, loss of job and a possible prison sentence, we will all have to attend diversity training centres as happens in all totalitarian states.

Jane

Melanie Phillips certainly hasn’t come to Mark Steyn’s plight late. She has flagged it up before (read the archive – it’s very good) and, I suspect, returns to it now because the tribunal is reaching an end.

What is extraordinary is that in so many different jurisdictions and forums it is becoming acceptable for Muslims and Islamic texts to criticise non-Muslims but not the reverse. We are no longer being defined by Western values of free speech but by Islam and by Muslims who interpret Islam. How convenient.

This has led to the most preposterous inversions of language. The most common one that’s sprayed about is the word “Islamophobia”.

So if I object to: “Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate.” I’m “Islamophobic”.

So it’s fine for this religion to define itself in ways that I – and I suggest any reasonable person – would consider intolerant and phobic (I’d suggest non-Muslimphobic and Westophobic) but we can’t say diddly squat back about it.

That quote I’ve given must just be taken as a given – no questions asked.

It’s their culture, innit? So, as the book says, to “hell” with my culture.

If anybody redrafted that sentence and replaced the word “unbelievers” with the word “Muslims”, they would, of course, be charged with a faith hate crime and be looking at a substantial jail term.

Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?

People seem to have worked out that if you just attach certain Western concepts to Islam, that can act as shield against any criticism.

Thus it is that London is home to the oxymoronic “Islamic Human Rights Commission”. Er, remind me again which Islamic country pioneered human rights?

Since it is an Islamic Human Rights Commission, it then follows that it’s ultimate agenda, whether stated explicitly or not, is to try to define rights in such a way that allows teachings such as this to flourish: “Those who have disbelieved our signs, we shall roast them in fire whenever their skins are cooked to a turn, we shall substitute new skins for them that they may feel punishment:
 verily Allah is sublime and wise."
This is an organisation that is regularly invited by the mainstream media to provide comment on Western attitudes to Islam, despite the serious allegations put against it, a small taste of which appears in this article (I’m sure Melanie has covered this and more in her blog before now):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Human_Rights_Commission

No wonder there’s such a scramble to close down debate about Islam, Islamism and the Sharia. Why would those who want to advance its agenda want any of this to be up for discussion?

And while Nanny Chakrabarti & Co find the most extraordinary energy to flail about on 42 days they say absolutely nothing on all of this.

Their silence is deafening.

Miranda Rose Smith

I think the expression "kangeroo court" should be reserved for informal proceedings, thrown together by, for example, convicts in a prison or soldiers on a battlefield. This is a star chamber proceeding.

Jane

Melanie Phillips certainly hasn’t come to Mark Steyn’s plight late. She has flagged it up before (read the archive – it’s very good) and, I suspect, returns to it now because the tribunal is reaching an end.

What is extraordinary is that in so many different jurisdictions and forums it is becoming acceptable for Muslims and Islamic texts to criticise non-Muslims but not the reverse. We are no longer being defined by Western values of free speech but by Islam and by Muslims who interpret Islam. How convenient.

This has led to the most preposterous inversions of language. The most common one that’s sprayed about is the word “Islamophobia”.

So if I object to: “Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate.” I’m “Islamophobic”.

So it’s fine for this religion to define itself in ways that I – and I suggest any reasonable person – would consider intolerant and phobic (I’d suggest non-Muslimphobic and Westophobic) but we can’t say diddly squat back about it.

That quote I’ve given must just be taken as a given – no questions asked.

It’s their culture, innit? So, as the book says, to “hell” with my culture.

If anybody redrafted that sentence and replaced the word “unbelievers” with the word “Muslims”, they would, of course, be charged with a faith hate crime and be looking at a substantial jail term.

Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?

People seem to have worked out that if you just attach certain Western concepts to Islam, that can act as shield against any criticism.

Thus it is that London is home to the oxymoronic “Islamic Human Rights Commission”. Er, remind me again which Islamic country pioneered human rights?

Since it is an Islamic Human Rights Commission, it then follows that it’s ultimate agenda, whether stated explicitly or not, is to try to define rights in such a way that allows teachings such as this to flourish: “Those who have disbelieved our signs, we shall roast them in fire whenever their skins are cooked to a turn, we shall substitute new skins for them that they may feel punishment:
 verily Allah is sublime and wise."
This is an organisation that is regularly invited by the mainstream media to provide comment on Western attitudes to Islam, despite the serious allegations put against it, a small taste of which appears in this article (I’m sure Melanie has covered this and more in her blog before now):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Human_Rights_Commission

No wonder there’s such a scramble to close down debate about Islam, Islamism and the Sharia. Why would those who want to advance its agenda want any of this to be up for discussion?

And while Nanny Chakrabarti & Co find the most extraordinary energy to flail about on 42 days they say absolutely nothing on all of this.

Their silence is deafening.

david skinner

The first and only time I listened to this play called “ The Investigator “ was when I was living in a dingy bed -sit in Ilford, Essex in 1966. Whenever I listen to recent debates in the House of Commons, fragments come floating back. However, due to the wonders of Broadband I have just rediscovered it and perhaps it might bring cathartic relief to others . May present the Investigator?
http://www.albany.edu/jmmh/vol3/investigator/investigator.html

Scot

Free Mark Steyn!!
and free Stephen Boisonne (if that's the right spelling)!!!
and support Melanie Phillips!!!!!

Frank Pulley

micheal (sic)

Perhaps if you would like to give us a full bibliography of your literary output, we could also snatch a couple of paragraphs out of context to quote.

No?

Enough said.

Frank Pulley

Jane

An exellent post and I'm glad it was posted twice, as it is worth reading twice - I enjoyed the second reading more than the first, even.

logdon

Paul says,

To think my taxes are paying these very lazy policmen to do nothing. Its absolute lunacy.

Unfortunately in the case of the Green Lane Mosque/Channel Four debacle the particular policeman was a Muslim more concerned with the happiness of his particular 'community' than that of the general populace. Far from being lazy he instituted all manner of false accusations to deflect from what was actually said. He attempted to prosecute C4, then when that failed took it to OFCOM. That is not lazy, it is outright discrimination and the effort which all of his machinations took must have been both time consuming and with sinister deliberation. I read of honour crime victims too scared to approach the police in places like Bradford because the loyalty of these officers is to the Ummah rather than the State and the women are merely returned to their tormentors. Ann Cryer, MP for Keighly just north of Bradford has been campaigning for years on this issue. Unfortunately to no avail. In simple terms our laws are now considered second in priority to keeping our Muslim community's reasonably passive. A total recipe for disaster and the problems are stored until the next wave of riots.

ahad ha'amoratzim

So, Micheal, your point seems to be that because you disagree with Mark Steyn's conclusions, he deserves to be silenced when someone is offended by anything he has written?

If not, then what is your point?

Kevin Parker

Melanie,
you remind us of the terrible persecution of Salman Rushdie for the "hate crime" of writing a novel which millions of Muslims who had not read it found "offensive". When the demonstrators marched through my town, Keighley, with their banners proclaiming "killee rushidee" and their megaphones blaring 'death to the infidel Rushdie", I asked the police officer in charge if incitement to murder was still a crime in England. He told me, quite brusquely, that he 'didn't want any trouble'. It seemed to set the tone and 'not wanting any trouble' has (mis)guided us ever since. Now, another of our greatest novelists' Ian McEwan is in the 'hate crime' firing line for daring to say that he "hates Islamism". Well, quelle surprise, as they say in Keighley: a deeply rational and intelligent observer of the human condition is not too keen on a specific manifestation of clerical fascism. But the hate; real, venomous, book-burning, death-threatening hate will, no doubt, be orchestrated against him for his commonplace and almost universally held opinion.

Jack R

There is a global Islamic jihad on free speech, be it at the UN, through the use and abuse of the Islamic invented epithet 'Islamowhatever', about cartoons, or Macleans/Mark Steyn books and articles.

Our politicians, our MSM (inc BBC) whom we might expect to be vigilant about freedom, do not give a lead to people on the vital issues here.

We need to pursue these issues beyond the important anti-jihad sites such as Melanie's.

Ann

Jack, Al Beeb is and has been for a long time in the vanguard of active corruption and capitulation.

Philip Saenz

I want to know why Muslims of the Qur'an can call Christians and Jews monkeys and apes, but we Christians are punished for critisizing the Qur'an that teaches that we are monkeys and apes.

Neil Saunders

To Philip Saenz

The answer to your question is simple: Because our elites have imported Muslims in huge quantities in order ultimately to replace us.

At this point some fool or liar will pipe up with the "Muslims are only X per cent of the population" (where X represents a small minority).

The important figures, however, are these:

What percentage of the UK population under 30 is Muslim?

Under 20?

Under 10?

Under 5?

And the most important of all:

What percentage of live births in the UK are to Muslims?

Rob

Today a black colleague told me that her 7year old child was told by her muslim classmates that she was not allowed to play with them because she was not a muslim. Who tells 7 year old muslim kids to say such things? Their parents? Their Imams? Why oh why is this disgusting racism not roundly exposed by the media.

George Steiner

There is something quaint and effete in the moans of some of you. Like "why oh why", "its a shame", "it has come to this".

I hope you feel better already.

Scott

crime and punishment is a system of govt, a political ideology.
islam is a system of govt and a political ideology hiding behind a religious mask.
now its hate speech to criticise it.
tyranny.

ProudInfidel

My take on this: nobody can silence us infidels without our approval. PC governments will bend over backwards to the Islamic agenda, but the people can speak out loud and clear. We don't have to accept what the govt wants in this respect. I will criticize Islam (or any other religion) as much as I want. I support the likes of Mark Steyn both morally and financially for his legal defense. I may not always agree with the Mark Steyns of this world, but I will defend their right to free speech. "Live free or die" will remain my motto and I encourage fellow infidels to stand up and be counted, PC governments be damned.

regulus591

WAKE THE F*** UP!

Fight for your freedom now, or lose your freedom later!

Herbert Thornton

Paul (June 25th, 2008 8:29am) says -

"Why be surprised at this? We lead the Canadians by light years."

Here in Canada Paul, I wonder about that. I have the feeling that our various Human Rights Commissions (dedicated to extinguishing important Human Rights and using Newspeak to disguise their true nature) have us running alongside you, neck and neck.

The latest complaint to be referred to a Human Rights Tribunal in British Columbia fully justifies Mark Steyn's description of Canada as The Demented Dominion. If only Evelyn Waugh were still alive. He's the only writer I can think of who'd do it justice.

You can read more about it on Ezra Levant's site - http://ezralevant.com/2008/06/did-you-hear-the-one-about-the.html

Neil Saunders

This will not be popular with Melanie herself, who seems to regard religious belief per se as some kind of cultural bulwark, but I would unreservedly recommend the YouTube videos of Pat Condell to any truth-seeker in need of moral/intellectual fortification.

Joe Camel

One of the Canadian “human rights” gangs has chickened out of the showdown:

TORONTO, June 26 /CNW/ - Maclean's magazine is pleased that the Canadian
Human Rights Commission has dismissed the complaint brought against it by the
Canadian Islamic Congress. [. . .]
Though gratified by the decision, Maclean's continues to assert that no
human rights commission, whether at the federal or provincial level, has the
mandate or the expertise to monitor, inquire into, or assess the editorial
decisions of the nation's media [. . .]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2008/26/c8368.html

Joe Camel

One of the Canadian “human rights” gangs has chickened out of the showdown:

TORONTO, June 26 /CNW/ - Maclean's magazine is pleased that the Canadian
Human Rights Commission has dismissed the complaint brought against it by the
Canadian Islamic Congress. [. . .]
Though gratified by the decision, Maclean's continues to assert that no
human rights commission, whether at the federal or provincial level, has the
mandate or the expertise to monitor, inquire into, or assess the editorial
decisions of the nation's media [. . .]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2008/26/c8368.html

Joe Camel

One of the Canadian “human rights” gangs has chickened out of the showdown:

TORONTO, June 26 /CNW/ - Maclean's magazine is pleased that the Canadian
Human Rights Commission has dismissed the complaint brought against it by the
Canadian Islamic Congress. [. . .]
Though gratified by the decision, Maclean's continues to assert that no
human rights commission, whether at the federal or provincial level, has the
mandate or the expertise to monitor, inquire into, or assess the editorial
decisions of the nation's media [. . .]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2008/26/c8368.html

Verity

Neil Saunders, yes but 31% of the genetic birth defects of newborns in Britain are Pakistani babies. So that takes away some of their breeding advantage. However, if they ever learn that intermarrying with first cousins for generations is not a GOOD THING, we're buggered.

Joe Camel, I was going to report this myself, too. Obviously, this tribunal took fright at the international publicity. Pity, because Steyn, Levant and Macleans were hoping to be able to appeal this all the way to the Supreme Court.

These "human rights tribunals" in Canada are not even part of the legal system. Yet they can impose draconian punishments on people.

The people running them have to be "sensitive to people". Wow! They don't have to know the law. They don't have to have a sense of justice. They just have to be "sensitive to people". And I believe we know exactly which people.

I wonder how the three little Muslim apprentice lawyers who brought the case are going to further their careers, now that they have lost so spectacularly on a global stage.

Any ideas, Herbert Thornton?

ajmalkov

I didn't know there could be any offense against humanity so egregious that Louise Arbour would disagree with it.

Joe Strummer

This debate isn't new in Scotland, in fact its very old hat. During the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, we have had supporters of the Provos IRA's campaign of sectarian mass murder openly celebrating the IRA's numerous acts of terrorism in Britain, especially lethal attacks against Scots soldiers in Ulster, on the streets of Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland with Irish Republican marching bands .

These sympathising "plastic Provos", as they are still called today, positively revel in calling each other "Fenians" after the IRA's Victorian Irish terrorist prototype, the Fenian Brotherhood.

These marches of gloating at the Scottish dead naturally caused revulsion amongst the Glasgow population who were appalled that the organised celebrations of the murders of Scottish soldiers were allowed to go ahead through their city.

Incredibly,however,the Police and the Procurator Fiscal, Scotland's CPS, decided that anyone who used the term "Fenian" in a derogatory or negative manner towards those supporting IRA terrorism were being "bigoted or racist" against the Irish community and would be thus arrested and charged with a criminal offence.

Yup, that's correct, Scottish citizens have been imprisoned by Scottish courts for publicly decrying against Irish terrorists and their supporters who would have bombed and maimed them.

Welcome to the madhouse.!

Herbert Thornton

Verity - The way the Human Rights Industry in Canada is heading, I almost have nightmares about complaints being made to Human Rights Commissions accusing people of things like failing to buy goods from Gay and Lesbian sales people. It isn't much more of a stretch to imagine similar complaints being brought against people for failing to take their legal problems to these three and thus discriminating against them.

More seriously though, I think there are enough Muslims in Canada to guarantee that the three recent graduates get lots of business from the Islamic community.

There's still, at the time of writing, no more news of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal's disposition of the case against Maclean's Magazine. Some people think that since the Federal Human Rights Commission has, as Ezra Levant described it, just blinked ( http://ezralevant.com/2008/06/the-canadian-human-rights-comm-1.html ) the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal will similarly, from the instinct of self preservation, also dismiss the complaint, leaving themselves free to persecute less well-off victims.

Somebody - I don't recall whether it was one of the three, or Elmasry himself, or somebody sympathetic to them - is reported to have said gloatingly that whatever the outcome, the complainants will have won - because the legal costs incurred by the accused will have been so punishingly large.

Verity

Herbert Thornton - Thank you.

To Almasry (or whomever), au contraire, Al, my good man.

You and your crew have illuminated the dictatorial, provincial, small-minded nature of a strand of the followers of the prophet by trying to shut down debate in such a public and foolish manner. Yes, the costs of this frivolous suit were high, but thousands of people have sent in contributions. Let's hope that Ezra and Mark have received enough to cover their costs and go out and have a few strongly alcoholic bevvies.

You are right, when you point out on another post (or perhaps further up this one), that Canada and Britain are running neck and neck in self-abasement. The average Brit, and probably the average Canadian, wants shot of the favouring of primitive adherents of a belief system which has never undergone a Reformation. But their governments enable them. Two words: Common Purpose.

It's a shame that these court room jihadis have become the face of Islam in the West. Islam in Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia (and probably other countries, too) is a tolerant, friendly religion. The vicious ones seem to come from the sub-Continent and Saudi Arabia.

They can't help being primitive, but is the toxic left in the advanced West who have engineered this.

Verity

PS - When I referred to the more backward practitioners of Islam I should, of course, have included Africa. The nice ones seem to be (some) in the Middle East and in SE Asia. And in the tolerant ones, I should have included Iraq.

My point was, these kangaroo jihadis are one particular, vicious and aggressive, strain of Islam. These are the ones being cultivated by the British and Canadian governments.

Jens Knocke

Dear Ms. Phillips,

Please have a look at http://www.steynonline.com/

I like your articles but think you got this one wrong.