Here is a useful summary of Hamas-linked CAIR’s latest attempt to compel non-Muslims to abide by Sharia rules regarding speech about Muhammad and Islam, Kramer Levin’s dhimmitude, and the commitment that a small but indefatigable number of people still have to truth and free inquiry: “CAIR Blocks Discussion of Islam — But Only Temporarily,” from IPT News, April 5:
Efforts by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to squash a lecture by writer Robert Spencer have been thwarted.
Spencer originally planned to speak April 18 at the New York law firm
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel about his forthcoming book, Did Muhammad Exist? The talk was sponsored by the Middle East Forum (MEF), headed by Daniel Pipes.CAIR issued an action alert
March 29 calling on the firm to rescind its invitation, claiming the
event would promote “Spencer’s claim that Islam’s Prophet Muhammad may
never have existed.” Spencer’s book is based on his review of the
130-year scholarly tradition that raises fundamental questions about
early Islamic history, including the Muslim prophet, Muhammad.Kramer Levin yielded to CAIR and rescinded Spencer’s invitation. “In
this instance, we were not aware of the controversy surrounding the
speaker at the April 18th event,” wrote firm Executive
Director Nicholas J. Tortorella. “Now having been alerted to the
situation, we have withdrawn permission for the event to take place at
our offices.”CAIR issued a statement
applauding the move. But that victory satisfaction is likely to be
short lived, as the Middle East Forum on Thursday issued a second invitation
for Spencer’s talk. It takes place April 24 at a location in mid-town
Manhattan not made public in advance, but provided only to participants.“The serious and sober discussion of Islam stands at the heart of the
Middle East Forum’s mission,” Pipes said. “Spencer has something
important to say; how could we but reschedule his talk? I hope CAIR
listens to his talk and learns from it when it is made public on www.MEForum.org.”The Forum’s action reminds us that not all organizations are willing to surrender to Islamist intimidation. Bravo to it.