Libel Lawfare

International & National Security Law Practice Group

Parties with means have been filing lawsuits, in American courts and abroad, against people who are openly critical of radical Islam. In light of these suits, what does freedom of speech truly mean? Is U.S. legislation prohibiting the enforcement of foreign libel judgments necessary? What should be the role of the European Union and the United Nations in addressing these issues? Join us for an all-day conference on May 19. [Register now!]

Registration for this event is now closed. 

This conference is co-sponsored by The Legal Project of the Middle East Forum, the Center for National Security Law, and The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.

Lawfare is the use of the law and legal institutions to achieve military, political or strategic objectives.  In recent years, lawfare has come to include libel litigation aimed at suppressing public dialogue about radical Islam and terrorism.  Parties with financial means have been filing lawsuits, in American courts and abroad, against people who speak out against or write critically about radical Islam.  Defendants include authors, researchers, journalists, politicians, and human rights advocacy groups.

"Libel Tourism," is a form of forum shopping, where plaintiffs bring actions against American citizens in foreign jurisdictions that lack the free speech protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution.  As a result New York State has passed the Libel Terrorism Protection Act, and the U.S. government is considering the Free Speech Protection Act, both of which operate to nullify said foreign libel judgments.

Our conference will address these fundamental issues: What does freedom of speech truly mean? Is U.S. legislation prohibiting the enforcement of foreign libel judgments necessary?  What should be the role of the European Union and the United Nations in addressing these issues?

Registration for this event is now closed.

TUESDAY, MAY 19
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Registration (Continental breakfast available)

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Brooke Goldstein, Director, Legal Project at the Middle East Forum

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Opening Address

• TBA

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Panel 1: Islamist Lawfare in the United States

• Prof. Alan M. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
• Frank Gaffney, Founder and President, Center for Security Policy
• Andrew C. McCarthy, Director, Center for Law and Counterterrorism
• James Taranto, Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
• John J. Walsh, Senior Counsel, Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP
• Moderator: Daniel Pipes, Director, The Middle East Forum

12:00 noon – 12:15 p.m.
Break

12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch and Testimonies - Limited to the first 50 RSVPs

• Hassan Dai, Researcher, IranLobby.com
• Joe Kaufman, Chairman, Americans Against Hate
• Marc Lebuis, Blogger, Point de Bascule

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Special Award Recipient

• Timothy Kapshandy, Sidley Austin LLP

1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Break

2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Panel 2: Islamist Lawfare in Europe, Canada, and the United Nations

• David Harris, Director of the International and Terrorist Intelligence Program, INSIGNIS Strategic Research Inc.
• Dr. Alan Mendoza, Executive Director, The Henry Jackson Society
• Douglas Murray, Director, The Centre for Social Cohesion
• Elizabeth Samson, Visiting Fellow, The Hudson Institute
• Barak Seener, Middle East Section Director, The Henry Jackson Society
• Moderator: David B. Rivkin, Jr., Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP

3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks

• Dean A. Reuter, Practice Groups Director, The Federalist Society

There is no charge to attend this program.

For questions, please call 202-822-8138 or email [email protected].

Registration for this event is now closed.