Fitna to be screened in Capital Hill

[Keltoi]

How can you tell if something is slander or defamation.

Slander and defamation is to say something in public about a person, company, etc that leads to loss of revenue or impacts their ability to function in society. There have been other court cases involving other aspects of slander, but many aren't successful.

 

[Uthman]

Hi Keltoi,

The U.S. only infringes on speech when that speech is deemed to present a danger to society. Such as yelling fire in a crowded theater.

I don't understand how the above is an example of speech that presents a danger to society. What is the danger, exactly?

Thanks.

 

[Muezzin]

Hi Keltoi,

I don't understand how the above is an example of speech that presents a danger to society. What is the danger, exactly?

Thanks.

If you shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre, when there is no fire, you may well cause a stampede for the exit, in which people may be hurt.

It comes from an actual case whose name escapes me at the moment. The culprits had locked the doors before shouting it, too. Idiots.

 

[Uthman]

If you shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre, when there is no fire, you may well cause a stampede for the exit, in which people may be hurt.

It comes from an actual case whose name escapes me at the moment. The culprits had locked the doors before shouting it, too. Idiots.

Ah, that makes more sense.

 

[Muezzin]

Congratulations, and welcome to America, a place where you don't get punished for saying things that offend people.

Unless you lie about them and damage their reputation.

In which case, welcome to defamation law!

But, no doubt, people will continue to labour under the delusion that freedom of speech is absolute with no limits. Under European Human Rights Law, it's not even top of the pecking order - the only absolute right is freedom from slavery or degrading treatment.

That's not a value judgment of freedom of speech, by the way.

 

[Whatsthepoint]

Slander and defamation is to say something in public about a person, company, etc that leads to loss of revenue or impacts their ability to function in society. There have been other court cases involving other aspects of slander, but many aren't successful.

So if a person in question is dead they can't be slandered?

 

[Keltoi]

So if a person in question is dead they can't be slandered?

Not in a legal sense.

 

[Uthman]

Dutch MP appeals against UK ban

A Dutch MP who was refused entry to Britain has launched an appeal against the Home Office's decision to ban him.

Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders has asked the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to overturn the ruling.

He had been invited to show his film Fitna - which refers to the Koran as a "fascist book" - in the House of Lords when he was refused entry last month.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had judged his presence in the UK to be a threat to public security.

After he was sent back to the Netherlands from Heathrow last month, the Home Office said there was a blanket ban on Mr Wilders' entry to the UK under EU laws enabling member states to exclude someone whose presence could threaten public security.

Holland's foreign minister, Maxime Verhagen, has described the refusal as "highly regrettable".

A spokesman for the Tribunals Service confirmed the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal had received an appeal from Mr Wilders.

His film caused outrage across the Muslim world when it was posted on the internet last year.

Screening go-ahead

Fitna's opening scenes show a copy of the Koran followed by footage of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005.

Mr Wilders had been invited to the House of Lords for a screening by the UK Independence Party's Lord Pearson.

It went ahead as planned, despite Mr Wilders' non-attendance.

Earlier this year, a Dutch court ordered prosecutors to put the MP on trial for inciting hatred and discrimination by making anti-Islamic statements.

A date for the appeal hearing is not likely to be set for four months.

Source (BBC News)