While I’ve been talking about free speech in Copenhagen, several free speech issues arose in North America. I was asked about them both at the Sappho Award event and in various interviews, so here’s a few thoughts for what they’re worth: for more click here
A gang of modern-day Fagins brought almost 200 Romanian children into Britain to steal and beg for their criminal masters, a court heard yesterday. for more click here
Britain’s biggest supermarket chains are selling halal lamb and chicken without telling unsuspecting shoppers.
Those stocking meat slaughtered according to Islamic law include Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Somerfield and the Co-op. for more click here
hen Australian lawyer (and atheist) Alex Stewart allegedly rolled marijuana “joints” from pages of the Bible and Koran and smoked them on YouTube, he quickly learned that many Muslims do not share the sufferance demonstrated by Western Christians, who have become accustomed to such conduct. Neither the Australian government nor Christians posed a threat to Stewart, but Muslim leaders were quick to try to avert violence from their community; Stewart found it necessary to go into hiding. However, six men in the United Kingdom are finding that their government will not be as forbearing of such shenanigans as their Commonwealth brethren “Down Under,” at least when it comes to tolerating actions deemed to be anti-Islamic. Their decision to burn two copies of the Koran on the anniversary of September 11, and then post the video (like Stewart) on YouTube, has resulted in their being taken into custody. for more click here
Benefits tourists are set to get the green light to come to Britain and immediately claim handouts totalling £2.5billion a year.
According to documents leaked to the Mail, ministers have been warned that restrictions on claims by immigrants are against the law and must be scrapped. for more click here
Earlier this year, after Comedy Central altered an episode of “South Park” that had prompted threats because of the way it depicted Islam’s prophet Muhammad, Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris proposed an “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.” The idea was, as she put it, to stand up for the 1st Amendment and “water down the pool of targets” for extremists. for more click here
The elected Texas Board of Education today adopted a resolution that warns textbook publishers to be careful and provide fair treatment of the world’s religions – or face being snubbed by the state that buys more textbooks than any other. for more click here
Moody’s downgraded Anglo Irish’s senior bonds by three notches to Baa3, the last level before junk. The bank’s subordinated debt was cut to Caa1, which reflects that the bondholders will have have to pay for it to be bailed out. for more click here
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon railed on Friday against radicals fostering tensions between the Western and Islamic worlds, saying the international community should stand together against those seeking to demonize “the other.” for more click here
Between northern brigade exercise and planning next battlefront, Brig.-Gen. Eyal Eisenberg makes time for special interview in which he warns Hamas of IDF’s crushing capabilities and doubts necessity for Iron Dome missile defense system.for more click here