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Silenced: Are Global Trends to Ban Religious Defamation, Religious Insult, and Islamophobia a New Challenge to First Amendment Freedoms?

International & National Security Law Practice Group

November 4, 2011

Silenced: Are Global Trends to Ban Religious Defamation, Religious Insult, and Islamaphobia a New Challenge to First Amendment Freedoms?The 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the deadly 2006 Danish cartoon riots brought worldwide attention to the issue of Muslim blasphemy bans. Though these events made global headlines, they are only one aspect of the debate about blasphemy bans in recent times. Charges such as "blasphemy," "apostasy," or "insulting Islam" are no longer limited to censoring irreverent caricatures of Islam's prophet, Mohammed. Some maintain that: they are increasingly used as tools by authoritarian governments and others to influence behavior and acquire power.

The West is also now experiencing a move toward new blasphemy standards through bans on "hate speech," "the stereotyping of Islam," and charges of "Islamophobia."  The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) within the United Nations and in the European Union has been a visible proponent of hate speech restrictions and other measures. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the U.S. government will sponsor a conference with the OIC on how to implement a U.N. resolution combating "negative stereotyping" of Islam, the focus of a recent U.N. resolution. The OIC conference is expected to take place in December in Washington, DC.

Our conference speakers will address the prevalence of trends concerning hate speech and blasphemy laws, and whether they pose a serious threat to the freedoms of citizens of the West, including Muslims, as well as people in OIC member states.

Our conference coincides with the release of Paul Marshall and Nina Shea's book, Silenced (Oxford University Press - Foreword by late Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid).

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9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes are Choking Freedom Worldwide - An Overview by the Authors

Silenced: Are Global Trends to Ban Religious Defamation, Religious Insult, and Islamophobia a New Challenge to First Amendment Freedoms?

Topics: Civil Rights • International Law & Trade • Religious Liberty • International & National Security Law • Free Speech & Election Law • Religious Liberties
Cannon Caucus Room
Cannon House Office Building
27 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

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Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes are Choking Freedom WorldwideThe 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the deadly 2006 Danish cartoon riots brought worldwide attention to the issue of Muslim blasphemy bans. Though these events made global headlines, they are only one aspect of the debate about blasphemy bans in recent times. Charges such as "blasphemy," "apostasy," or "insulting Islam" are no longer limited to censoring irreverent caricatures of Islam's prophet, Mohammed. Some maintain that: they are increasingly used as tools by authoritarian governments and others to influence behavior and acquire power.

The West is also now experiencing a move toward new blasphemy standards through bans on "hate speech," "the stereotyping of Islam," and charges of "Islamophobia." The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) within the United Nations and in the European Union has been a visible proponent of hate speech restrictions and other measures. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the U.S. government will sponsor a conference with the OIC on how to implement a U.N. resolution combating "negative stereotyping" of Islam, the focus of a recent U.N. resolution. The OIC conference is expected to take place in December in Washington, DC.

Our conference speakers will address the prevalence of trends concerning hate speech and blasphemy laws, and whether they pose a serious threat to the freedoms of citizens of the West, including Muslims, as well as people in OIC member states. This panel featured Mr. Paul Marshall and Ms. Nina Shea, both of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, as they discussed their new book Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes are Choking Freedom Worldwide.

 

  • Mr. Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
  • Ms. Nina Shea, Director and Senior Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
  • Introduction: Mr. Jonathan Bunch, Vice President & Director of State Courts, The Federalist Society

**During the recording of this event, we experienced issues with the sound system. We apologize for the sound quality of this video.**

 

Speakers

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Panel I: The Muslim World

Silenced: Are Global Trends to Ban Religious Defamation, Religious Insult, and Islamophobia a New Challenge to First Amendment Freedoms?

Topics: Foreign Policy • International Law & Trade • Religious Liberty • International & National Security Law • Religious Liberties
Cannon Caucus Room
Cannon House Office Building
27 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

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Event Video

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The Muslim WorldThe 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the deadly 2006 Danish cartoon riots brought worldwide attention to the issue of Muslim blasphemy bans. Though these events made global headlines, they are only one aspect of the debate about blasphemy bans in recent times. Charges such as "blasphemy," "apostasy," or "insulting Islam" are no longer limited to censoring irreverent caricatures of Islam's prophet, Mohammed. Some maintain that: they are increasingly used as tools by authoritarian governments and others to influence behavior and acquire power.

The West is also now experiencing a move toward new blasphemy standards through bans on "hate speech," "the stereotyping of Islam," and charges of "Islamophobia." The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) within the United Nations and in the European Union has been a visible proponent of hate speech restrictions and other measures. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the U.S. government will sponsor a conference with the OIC on how to implement a U.N. resolution combating "negative stereotyping" of Islam, the focus of a recent U.N. resolution. The OIC conference is expected to take place in December in Washington, DC.

Our conference speakers will address the prevalence of trends concerning hate speech and blasphemy laws, and whether they pose a serious threat to the freedoms of citizens of the West, including Muslims, as well as people in OIC member states. This panel on "The Muslim World" featured Prof. David F. Forte of Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall School of Law; Mr. Amjad Mahmood Khan of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA; Mr. Jacob Mchangama of the Center for Political Studies (Copenhagen, Denmark); Mr. Samuel Tadros of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom; and Mr. James P. Kelly III, Director of International Affairs at the The Federalist Society, as the moderator.

 

  • Prof. David F. Forte, Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall School of Law
  • Mr. Amjad Mahmood Khan, Attorney and National Director of Public Affairs, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA
  • Mr. Jacob Mchangama, Director of Legal Affairs, Center for Political Studies (Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Mr. Samuel Tadros, Research Fellow, Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom
  • Moderator: Mr. James P. Kelly III, Director of International Affairs, The Federalist Society

**During the recording of this event, we experienced issues with the sound system. We apologize for the sound quality of this video.**

 

Speakers

11:25 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.
Panel II: Growing Repression in the West

Silenced: Are Global Trends to Ban Religious Defamation, Religious Insult, and Islamophobia a New Challenge to First Amendment Freedoms?

Topics: Civil Rights • Culture • International Law & Trade • Religious Liberty • International & National Security Law • Free Speech & Election Law • Religious Liberties
Cannon Caucus Room
Cannon House Office Building
27 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

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Event Video

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Description

Growing Repression in the WestThe 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the deadly 2006 Danish cartoon riots brought worldwide attention to the issue of Muslim blasphemy bans. Though these events made global headlines, they are only one aspect of the debate about blasphemy bans in recent times. Charges such as "blasphemy," "apostasy," or "insulting Islam" are no longer limited to censoring irreverent caricatures of Islam's prophet, Mohammed. Some maintain that: they are increasingly used as tools by authoritarian governments and others to influence behavior and acquire power.

The West is also now experiencing a move toward new blasphemy standards through bans on "hate speech," "the stereotyping of Islam," and charges of "Islamophobia." The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) within the United Nations and in the European Union has been a visible proponent of hate speech restrictions and other measures. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the U.S. government will sponsor a conference with the OIC on how to implement a U.N. resolution combating "negative stereotyping" of Islam, the focus of a recent U.N. resolution. The OIC conference is expected to take place in December in Washington, DC.

Our conference speakers will address the prevalence of trends concerning hate speech and blasphemy laws, and whether they pose a serious threat to the freedoms of citizens of the West, including Muslims, as well as people in OIC member states. This panel featured on the "Growing Repression in the West" featured Mr. Bruce Bawer, best-selling author of While Europe Slept; Mr. Paul Diamond, a United Kingdom defense attorney in hate speech cases; and the Rev. Dr. Mark Durie, Vicar of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Melbourne, Australia.

 

  • Mr. Bruce Bawer, Best-Selling Author of While Europe Slept
  • Mr. Paul Diamond, United Kingdom defense attorney in hate speech cases
  • Rev. Dr. Mark Durie, Vicar, St. Mary’s Anglican Church (Melbourne, Australia)

**During the recording of this event, we experienced issues with the sound system. We apologize for the sound quality of this video.**

 

Speakers

12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Keynote Address and Commentary: Where Are the Muslim Moderates?

Silenced: Are Global Trends to Ban Religious Defamation, Religious Insult, and Islamophobia a New Challenge to First Amendment Freedoms?

Topics: Civil Rights • Culture • International Law & Trade • Religious Liberty • International & National Security Law • Religious Liberties
Cannon Caucus Room
Cannon House Office Building
27 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

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Event Video

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Description

This keynote address by former member of the Danish Parliament Naser Khader on "Where Are the Muslim Moderates?" was followed by commentary from Ms. Manda Zand Ervin of the Alliance of Iranian Women and the American Islamic Leadership Coalition. Mr. David B. Rivkin Jr. of Baker & Hostetler LLP chaired this event.

  • Ms. Manda Zand Ervin, Founder & President, Alliance of Iranian Women and Member, American Islamic Leadership Coalition
  • Hon. Naser Khader, former Member, Danish Parliament
  • Chaired by David B. Rivkin, Jr., Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP

 **During the recording of this event, we experienced issues with the sound system. We apologize for the sound quality of this video.**

Speakers

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