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Tony · 25th May 2005, 08:07 AM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...500470_pf.html ...full article

Quote:

ROME (Reuters) - A judge has ordered best-selling writer and journalist Oriana Fallaci to stand trial in her native Italy on charges she defamed Islam in a recent book.

The decision angered Italy's justice minister but delighted Muslim activists, who accused Fallaci of inciting religious hatred in her 2004 work "La Forza della Ragione" (The Force of Reason).

Fallaci lives in New York and has regularly provoked the wrath of Muslims with her outspoken criticism of Islam following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities.

In "La Forza della Ragione," Fallaci wrote that terrorists had killed 6,000 people over the past 20 years in the name of the Koran and said the Islamic faith "sows hatred in the place of love and slavery in the place of freedom."

State prosecutors originally dismissed accusations of defamation from an Italian Muslim organization, and said Fallaci should not stand trial because she was merely exercising her right to freedom of speech.

What other things are Italians forbidden from criticizing? Communism? Christianity? Buddhism? Nazism? It seems silly that someone can be brought to trial for "defaming" a religion. This almost seems like a modern day version of heresy.

Cleon · 25th May 2005, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...500470_pf.html ...full article

What other things are Italians forbidden from criticizing? Communism? Christianity? Buddhism? Nazism? It seems silly that someone can be brought to trial for "defaming" a religion. This almost seems like a modern day version of heresy.

Pretty common in Europe, actually. "Inciting hatred" and all that. Canada has similar laws.

Tony · 25th May 2005, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cleon
Pretty common in Europe, actually. "Inciting hatred" and all that. Canada has similar laws.

Then why didn't they just ban the book?

Cleon · 25th May 2005, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony
Then why didn't they just ban the book?

Damfino. I never said it made sense, did I?

25th May 2005, 08:07 AM	#1
Tony Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 13,810	Does Free Speech Exist in Italy? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...500470_pf.html ...full article Quote: ROME (Reuters) - A judge has ordered best-selling writer and journalist Oriana Fallaci to stand trial in her native Italy on charges she defamed Islam in a recent book. The decision angered Italy's justice minister but delighted Muslim activists, who accused Fallaci of inciting religious hatred in her 2004 work "La Forza della Ragione" (The Force of Reason). Fallaci lives in New York and has regularly provoked the wrath of Muslims with her outspoken criticism of Islam following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities. In "La Forza della Ragione," Fallaci wrote that terrorists had killed 6,000 people over the past 20 years in the name of the Koran and said the Islamic faith "sows hatred in the place of love and slavery in the place of freedom." State prosecutors originally dismissed accusations of defamation from an Italian Muslim organization, and said Fallaci should not stand trial because she was merely exercising her right to freedom of speech. What other things are Italians forbidden from criticizing? Communism? Christianity? Buddhism? Nazism? It seems silly that someone can be brought to trial for "defaming" a religion. This almost seems like a modern day version of heresy.
	__________________ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company. - Mark Twain

25th May 2005, 08:09 AM	#2
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,610	Re: Does Free Speech Exist in Italy? Quote: Originally posted by Tony http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...500470_pf.html ...full article What other things are Italians forbidden from criticizing? Communism? Christianity? Buddhism? Nazism? It seems silly that someone can be brought to trial for "defaming" a religion. This almost seems like a modern day version of heresy. Pretty common in Europe, actually. "Inciting hatred" and all that. Canada has similar laws.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

25th May 2005, 08:11 AM	#3
Tony Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 13,810	Quote: Originally posted by Cleon Pretty common in Europe, actually. "Inciting hatred" and all that. Canada has similar laws. Then why didn't they just ban the book?
	__________________ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company. - Mark Twain

25th May 2005, 08:12 AM	#4
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,610	Quote: Originally posted by Tony Then why didn't they just ban the book? Damfino. I never said it made sense, did I?
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich