Yes, but we’re just claiming that there is any chill on free speech because of Islamic jihadist intolerance. “Anti-Islam book launch cancelled,” from Radio Netherlands, February 16 (thanks to George):
A conference centre in The Hague has cancelled the launch of a book criticising Islam. The book launch was scheduled for Thursday at The World Forum, but was cancelled because the director of the venue does not believe he can guarantee the safety of his guests.
The book in question is Islamofobie? (Islamophobia?), written by Islam critic and PVV supporter Frans Groenendijk. The PVV, or Freedom Party is an anti-Islamic opposition party led by Geert Wilders.
Green Left party member Tofik Dibi, who was to receive the first book at the launch, says he regrets that the conference centre acted out of fear. The venue says it has not received any threats.
All right. And I do not think this event should have been canceled. It should have been guarded, and all the journalists in the country, if there are any real ones, should have written about the importance of defending free speech. But does anyone actually think that because they had not received any threats, that the organizers of this book launch acted precipitously? Of course their event was under a threat, even if not articulated in this instance. There are ample precedents.