I hope this case will backfire against those that seek to inimidate and silence honest debate. I hope Italians, Europians and others will wake up to the perpetual attempts to sanitise Islam and its history and to play on the average citizens' limited knowledge of history and Islam.

Posted by: Gerry at June 12, 2006 6:45 AM

"Judge Armando Grasso ruled in a preliminary hearing that Ms Fallaci had made 18 statements "offensive to Islam and Muslims."

Ms. Fallaci has probably made statements that are "offensive to Islam and Moslems." The issue is whether truth of the statements is an absolute defense to any charge of libel. Also, why are not Moslem immams in Italy not hailed into European courts for all statements made in schools offensive to Christians and Jews? Since everything in the Koran is perfect and the word of God saying Jesus is the son of God will be offensive to Islam and Moslems. Will Catholic churches have to take down all images of Christ?

Posted by: David England at June 12, 2006 6:46 AM

Since when is it a crime to make a statement that offends? Could Robert be tried in Europe under the same laws for his books? Do these laws exist in America?

Posted by: somethingaboutislam at June 12, 2006 6:53 AM

Adel Smith is part Scottish, part Italian, all Muslim and a throughly nasty piece of work. He caused a commotion at his mother's deathbed by hurling the hospital crucifix out of the ward window which says more about his self aggrandising prejudices than about his concern and grief for his dying mum.
Meanwhile my thoughts are with Miss Fallaci as she endures her own health problems.

Posted by: Granny Weatherwax at June 12, 2006 7:05 AM

SomethingaboutIslam:

Since when is it a crime to make a statement that offends? Since the multiculturalists gained control of Europe's courts.

Could Robert be tried in Europe under the same laws for his books? Probably.

Do these laws exist in America? No. Not yet, anyway.

Cordially
Robert Spencer

Posted by: jihadwatch at June 12, 2006 7:06 AM

A remarkable lady

I googled her name and read a couple of excerpts from her life. She is quite a character, strong, defiant and aggressive.

Her confrontation with Khomeini was a classic.

I remember a columnsist stating something to the effect that "she may not be polite, but she is factually right"

My regards and admiration for you Ms. Fallaci.

may the truth never die

for a free world

thehindu

Posted by: thehindu at June 12, 2006 7:08 AM

"offensive to Islam...."

How can an ideology take offense or be offended?

(Offend: “To cause displeasure, anger, resentment, or wounded feelings in;
To be displeasing or disagreeable to: Onions offend my sense of smell.”)

I'd like to see the defense lawyer call Islam to the stand to testify that it has taken offense.

"and Muslims".

That's a different issue. But that means that criticism of any ideology could be contrued as offensive to the individuals who adhere to that ideology. Which would mean that criticizing a political party's platform could be considered offensive to the party members themselves.

What is Italy thinking?

Posted by: Caroline at June 12, 2006 7:17 AM

I bet those greedy lawyers are rubbing their palms together with glee at the thought of all the "cases" that will be brought by offended Muslims all over Europe.

Posted by: londongirl at June 12, 2006 7:18 AM

Disgusted does not express the way I feel, but perhaps it will backfire and it will be dismissed with predudice like the Anti-cair lawsuit by cair.

Posted by: Holger Dansker at June 12, 2006 7:22 AM

OK Dimmis of the world, Know the truth and act accordingly, you just may live longer. It seems the free world is just full of worthless appeasers (could so many be blind, stupid, or scared to stand up and take action?). The Islamic movement is playing serious hardball, the rest of would should be swinging with a fast big bat. The rules as practiced by the Islamic terrorist are : There are no rules. We should participate accordingly. We should support those who speak the truth.

Posted by: exsgtbrown at June 12, 2006 8:18 AM

So, what's the legal basis for putting Fallaci on trial for offending Islam or Muslims, while it is (apparently) perfectly legal to offend Christianity, Christians, Europe, Europeans, America, Americans, Communism, Communists, Nazism, Nazis, feminism, feminists, people who talk loudly into their cellphones, politicians, celebrities, movies or books? I mean, there has to be some reason why Islam is the exception. A real and legal reason.

Posted by: Jesus Christ Supercop at June 12, 2006 8:22 AM

With these stupid laws how come no one sues Muslims for being offensive to everything? Once, a Muslim told me to f#$k a pig because I told him the Quran was not the word of god when he asked me what I thought about the book. I guess I have to be non-white/non-Christian to sue for offensives; this sounds as stupid as those hate crime laws here in the US. My best friend is half black/ half Vietnamese and he even doesn’t understand these stupid laws.

Posted by: billybob at June 12, 2006 8:25 AM

How much rhetoric is excessive? Who decides when someone has reached his rhetorical limit? Have I just exceeded mine???

Posted by: Abscedere at June 12, 2006 8:45 AM

Whatever has happened to what I always thought of as an essential characteristic of the Italian personality -- a hearty appreciation of irreverence and a healthy contempt for pomposity, self-importance and political correctness? To paraphrase an old Calabrese greeting/insult, has the nation's persona gone from being "the howl of the wolf" to become instead, "the bleat of a rabbit or the fart of a goat"?

Anyway, in light of all that has gone on in Europe since Adel Smith initiated this legal action, let us hope that this will backfire on him and his supporters.

Posted by: waterdragon52 at June 12, 2006 8:52 AM

I am not worried by the trial. The charges will be dismissed, or not, there will be appeal, and so on. There will be coverage in the media, and there will be coloumns and maybe debate. And each time one or the other decent person will realize the truth about Islam.

Great.

Posted by: FreeSpeech at June 12, 2006 8:56 AM

lets hope she sends a lawyer or someone who will speak for her. let them give out quotes from the koran, haddiths, etc. let them hear the words that muslims dont wnant you know of. there is always a silver lining to every storm cloud.

Posted by: Lulu at June 12, 2006 9:17 AM

By fortune I was born an American. I am proud to be American, I apologize to nobody for being so. I have the freedom to think on my own and do what I want and go where I please. I will not give this up for anything. Nuff said!

Posted by: JanuaryMan at June 12, 2006 9:21 AM

Adel Smith is part Scottish, part Italian, all Muslim

The first two sound promising, but the Muslim element has drowned them out. This trial is outrageous. What will happen if she's found guilty, I wonder?

she will be imprisoned for rhetorical excess

Perhaps she will be sent to the "Mustn't Grumble" Re-education Camp to be taught how to play things down by Paul "marvellous, in'it" Merton.

Posted by: Interested at June 12, 2006 9:37 AM

The Strength of Reason," were offensive to Islam. Smith's lawyer cited a phrase from the book that refers to Islam as "a pool ... that never purifies."........Islam is offensive to humanity as a whole....It makes slaves of those caught in its trap....its a book of lies....a book of war..filled with hate and evil..It makes an evil joke of common sense.

Posted by: storagemanager at June 12, 2006 9:41 AM

Anit-Dhimmi Professor or extreme Dhimmi College, depending on how you look at it. I am sorry to say this is a supposed Catholic University, apparently in name only...

Link to complete press release:

http://catholiccitizens.org/press/pressview.asp?c=33822

A judge has allowed a former DePaul professor to proceed with his defamation lawsuit against the Catholic University that fired him two years ago after he engaged in a heated verbal exchange with Muslim students at a student fair on campus.

The two Palestinian students, offended by Professor Tom Klocek's Christian perspective on the Middle East, complained to the DePaul administration, which dismissed the professor. Then, according to his Klocek's attorney, the university began waging a publicity campaign against the professor, denigrating him as a racist and an Islamophobe......

Posted by: adobe at June 12, 2006 9:42 AM

All right, time to get more people mad at me....
This particular trial is a piece of nonsense, which will eventually be defeated in appeal after years of claims and counterclaims, to the pleasure of the lawyers alone. If this were the worst that Adel Smith and his pathetic likes were able to do, there would not be much reason to worry about them. (Recently, a militant Italian atheist took a priest to court under the Italian crime of "Taking advantage of mental incapacity" ("circonvenzione d'incapace") for preaching that there was such a person as Jesus. The case was allowed to go to trial - and then laughed out of court.

But Oriana has done a lot more and worse than just "offend Islam" when she has publicly threatened to have the projected Colle Val d'Elsa mosque blown up. Offensive though the damned building is, stupid and corrupt though the mayor who allowed it indubitably is, dynamite is not a valid argument. And the people she has threatened to hook up with - Tuscan anarchists - have a long record of violence, terrorism and murder. Oriana Fallaci effectively threatened life and limb, and no government or justice system could possibly ignore it. If she had done the same in the US, she would have found herself in front of a US court, and quite right too.

Posted by: Paolo at June 12, 2006 9:46 AM

Judge: I am making an example of you to send a message out to people everywhere: that if you want to hurt another human being, you'd better make damn sure they're the same color as you are.

-South Park 4/01

Posted by: Animus at June 12, 2006 10:07 AM

Orianna Fallaci trial in abstentia. Let it run its ridiculous course. However it would be great if it is an expose of the truth for all to see. Who are the witnesses for the defense and the prosecution? Could we have witnesses like Ibn Warraq, Serge Trifkovic,and Robert Spencer or would they be held in contempt for telling the truth (probably)? Wouldn't it be great if C-SPAN got invited to the court hearings for all to see.

Posted by: Mackie at June 12, 2006 10:11 AM

americaningermany says,

'No one dare offend Islam. We are MUZZLED'

A definition of 'muzzled'. - The prevention, reluctance or inability to critize Islam.

Posted by: western infidel at June 12, 2006 10:18 AM

Dante Alleghieri was driven into poverty and exile for criticizing the Papacy. Socrates was forced to imbibe hemlock for "corruption of the youth." The current Italian government has followed in the steps of an ancient tradition.
A society can not be half free, preserving a pretense to democracy and liberty while crushing the very freedoms which define our soul.

Posted by: DesertDawgN29 at June 12, 2006 10:32 AM

The “Fallaci Trial”?
Definition of fallacy (noun)
illusion; misconception; untruth; falsehood.
Life’s little coincidences.

Posted by: tgusa at June 12, 2006 10:39 AM

she was cleared of another trial in italy where the judge praised her truth and bla bla bla.

I agree judges are idiots, but not all of them.

Posted by: gorniak at June 12, 2006 10:47 AM

I do!

http://www.merlin.com.pl/frontend/towar/386891

Posted by: Polish infideless at June 12, 2006 10:51 AM

Europe sowed the seeds of this when they created hate speech laws in the wake of the carnage of World War II. Specifically, so-called "Holocaust denial" laws. In Germany, one can write a serious critique of the evidence for the Holocaust of the Jews, with no anti-Semitic statements, no racialist statements of any kind--and still go to jail for it. The fact that Holocaust deniers are flat wrong should not result in their going to jail.

Once Europe started down that path, it was inevitable that Muslims would start to demand similar protections. The day will soon come when a scholar who puts the blame for the Crusades on earlier Muslim conquest of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and threats to the Byzantine Empire is going to be put in jail, just like Holocaust deniers are put in jail.

This illustrates one of my basic rules of thumb about civil liberties: Don't demand security measures that may one day be used by the opposition against you, if they take power. The same Republicans who say that the PATRIOT Act is a vital part of protecting our national security may sing a different tune if the tools of the PATRIOT Act are in the hands of President Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Posted by: Steven L. at June 12, 2006 10:54 AM

What Fallaci says is true, and is offensive to muslims because everything about them IS offensive. (Does anyone know anything about them that isn't?)

The whole country has become dhimmis so I wonder if it will be throw out of court.

I think the Catholic Church is slowly committing suicide and I imagine it will lay the blame at the feet of Dan Brown! Pathetic!

However, they are selling their churches so they can become mosques! They are taking crucifixes out of their hospitals and schools.

They are tolerating the intolerable.They are aiding and abetting their own destruction.

If anyone, including Robert, goes there as a witness for Fallaci they run the risk of being sued for what she is being sued for.

I am not optimistic about this.

If anyone hasn't read her book,,please try.

Yes,,her style of writing is passionate, but the message is correct and her style of writing should not diminish the truth she writes.

Oddly enough Fallaci is optimistic about the survival of the West. She sees the US as the main core of salvation. I hope she is right.

Posted by: Gramfan at June 12, 2006 10:56 AM

Waaaaa, their little Muslim feelings have been hurt. What a bunch of crybabies these followers of Moe and his pet rock are.

Posted by: Prickzilla at June 12, 2006 11:40 AM

Steven L. above writes: "Europe sowed the seeds of this when they created hate speech laws in the wake of the carnage of World War II."

Yep, in Europe's case, that is one important reason why it is so Islamophobo-phobic, and also explains the blatantly prejudicial template by which Milosevic was condemned -- the Nazi and Fascist horrors were so bad, Europe agreed to install a blatantly prejudicial template that would act prophylactically against any future repetition of said horrors; the only problem being that this box Europe has built for itself rigidly puts Islam in the diametrically and tragically incorrect category.

Other reasons for the various expressions of dhimmitude in the modern West (e.g., a diffuse but still powerful PC multiculturalism) have more complex historical and cultural origins.

Posted by: Television at June 12, 2006 11:48 AM

Steven L. above writes: "Europe sowed the seeds of this when they created hate speech laws in the wake of the carnage of World War II."

Freedom of speech that applies only to those who agree with you is called Thought Control, not freedom.

Unfortunately, in most of Europe it seems that "hate speech" laws do not apply if the "hate speech" is directed at either the Jews or traditional European culture.

I wonder what they would do in the EU courts if non-Moslems started hauling every single muslim who advocates jihad into court?

I learned something interesting over the weekend. It seems that in the Netherlands, not only have they legalized drugs, prostitution, the "mercy killing" of disabled infants and assisted suicide, they allow female genital mutilation to take place in their hospitals.

The Pope of the Catholic Church kissing the koran, suing a priest for teaching his religion..... Europe is rapidly becoming a lost cause.

Posted by: gallopinggranny at June 12, 2006 12:04 PM

In a better world, she should be ostracized for what she said, but when jihad monsters scream for war and destruction of every other faith from their mosques, this kind of hypocrisy is utterly galling.

Posted by: Dumbo at June 12, 2006 12:22 PM

I dont really understood how did Fallaci defamed Islam. She was barely writing the facts of war & Islam.

The koran summarizes that Unbelievers are like dirty, not to be trusted & to be killed when possible.

This itself is an insult to all the other religions.

It is:

1. Openly Declaring War to civilians that are non muslims.
2. Openly Defaming others believe & faith.
3. Openly Subjecting racist remarks & forcing muslims to be racists.

So, If Adel Smith is the wise & honourable muslim, he should strive to remove the defaming text from the koran or ban it once & for all.

He should at least educate muslims how to live properly in the west.

Instead he is wasting his time suing an old lady.

Im extreamly ashamed of you mr adel smith.

I seriously believe the koran was rewritten to benefit the few. The words of god cant be cruel.

Posted by: tjwork at June 12, 2006 12:23 PM

The magnitude of small seeming things only becomes evident after the fact in many situations. In retrospect, one wonders how the magnitude didn't enter the imagination.

Until this trial actually commenced, and despite knowing that it loomed, I didn't fully appreciate the chasm between Europe and the US regarding freedom of speech, or the wanton disregard for reality. Their staggering stupidities and confusions disgust me more profoundly than ever before.

And is it any wonder that the primitive barbarians know they can take possession of Europe, that it will be easy? They smell blood because Europe is hemorrhaging everywhere.

Posted by: jsla at June 12, 2006 12:23 PM

Keep the book ideas coming, I have them ordered for the public libraries. I have already requested Spencer's as well.

Posted by: squire at June 12, 2006 12:25 PM

TV has a point. But tOday, it would be like having Nazism declared a religion, which they did create, the Aryan CHurch, then protecting Nazis from harrassment and criticism using democratic laws that they have no intention of honoring.

Posted by: Dumbo at June 12, 2006 12:25 PM

Iranian President Ahamdinejad: The Americans Make Genghis Khan and Nero Look Like Saints

Following are excerpts from a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on the Iranian News Channel on June 8, 2006.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: [The Americans] said they have come here to guarantee human rights - equal rights for all human beings. But those claiming to protect human rights have their arms submerged up to their elbows in oppression, crime, torture, and injustice. The prisons they have established in Guantanamo, Abu Ghuraib, in the heart of Europe, and in the countries under their control make even Genghis Khan and Nero look like saints. As you can see, they are perpetrating in the name of human rights, the worst tortures of the Middle Ages, in full view of the cameras.

We believe that in recent decades, several Western countries have been acting with egotism and a hunger for power, in a unilateral manner, and have violated the rights of the peoples, forcing upon the world an atmosphere of insecurity, threats, and discrimination. They caused many wars and crimes. They caused resentment, rifts, and hatred.

Today, they face an historic choice. They have only two options. On option is to surrender to justice and the culture of justice, to abandon their arrogance, their hunger for power, and their aggression, and strive, together with the peoples, for peace and security worldwide. If they don't, they will soon face the powerful slap of the peoples who have arisen, and they will have to abandon the international scene, and roll into the corners of isolation.

[...]

Any hand that wishes to split the united ranks of the people is not the hand of the Iranian people. It is the hand of foreigners, and the strong hand of the people must chop it off.




http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1167

Posted by: storagemanager at June 12, 2006 12:34 PM

I am VERY offended by this trial. It is an insult to me and to everyone who has the good sense to value the same things that I do.

Whom do I sue?

Posted by: Snippet at June 12, 2006 12:50 PM

from post above "Iranian President Ahamdinejad: The Americans Make Genghis Khan and Nero Look Like Saints"
He is half right. America does make Genghis Khan look like a saint but its because of its shameful alliance with Islam. It still doesnt excuse him.

Posted by: pissedoffcanadian at June 12, 2006 12:50 PM

on the same principle, there is now a pedophile political party in the Netherlands ! Claiming that knowbody knows if a new born wants to have sex, as well as animals and also legalize all the possible drugs. After all, when a man f***s a nine year old...I wonder what is that called.

We also have trial like that. the difference is that the alleged "racist" is now beat to a pulp on his front door by the alleged "victims".

Posted by: LeGaule at June 12, 2006 1:22 PM

Excerpts of the pope’s talks appear in Recognize the Spiritual Bonds which Unite Us: 16 years of Christian-Muslim Dialogue, a 1994 publication of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

“As I have often said in other meetings with Muslims, your God and ours is one and the same, and we are brothers and sisters in the faith of Abraham,” the pope said in Rome in 1985.

The pope knew better than this, why would he say such nonesense that he knows is not true?

At a synod news conference, a special representative appointed by the pope, Archbishop Józef Miroslaw Zycinski of Lublin, Poland, seemed to put some distance between Besançon and the bishops. Besançon was “expressing his personal opinion,” Zycinski said, and “we cannot censor him.”

Mere opinion? Is that all there is; mere differences in opinion? Or are there differences in fundemental notions of what is true and central in one's beliefs and teachings?

Yet Zycinski clearly shared some of Besançon’s concern. “If Islam evolves in the direction of greater religious openness, then there is the possibility of dialogue,” Zycinski said. “But if a fundamentalist version dominates in which religion is mixed with politics, then optimism will not be justified.”

Just what will happen do you suppose?

The central questions which divide the "children of Abraham" are many and substantial.

Just for openers: Islam claims the crucifixtion of Jesus never took place in history. Christianity claims it did and so does Judaism.

Christianity claims that only Jesus is the way to salvation. Islam claims that mohammad is the only way to salvation; Juadaism claims something altogether different.

How can one pretend that there will ever be agreement on these three -- and if we add other relgions -- then the ideas central to one's belief system and sense of what is true -- the divisions are magnified.

"Peace! Peace! But there will be no peace."

Posted by: witness at June 12, 2006 2:12 PM

pissedoffcanadian -- every time I see you half agreeing with the Muslim fascists I'm revolted. Elsewhere you exhort the death of the British PM at the hands of the Jihadis. While these may be lame attempts at irony, they fall flat to this reader.

I also deplore the way you, along with the Jihadis, like to construe the world's problems as being of America's doing. Enough.

You are an extremely confused and frustrated Canadian. I understand why, given the near insane approach of your Country in the fight against Islamic Fascism.

Here's a suggestion: Stop looking at our paper during the test. Stop cheating. It's time for Canadians who understand the contours of this horror to face their own country's complicity, and to work to correct Canada's woeful mistakes.

Slashing and burning constantly at America only helps to fuel the flames. Half parroting the Jihadi propaganda is downright stupid, and such posts are completely unhelpful. Your attitude is poisonous for Canada, the US, and the fight against the Jihad.

Posted by: jsla at June 12, 2006 2:12 PM

Oriana's two recent books (The Pride and the Rage; The Force of Reason)are modern classics and should be in everyone's collections (including illiterate muslims) as they clearly and systematically demonstrate the increasingly rapid islamic demise of europe - hopefully not completely lost yet. Buy her books, read them, support a true hero of our time.

Thank you Oriana.

Thank you Robert, et al.

Posted by: oregonjack at June 12, 2006 2:18 PM

oreganjack, I agree with you that she is a "true hero of our time," and what an example she is for the future of a free world. I too admire Oriana for fearlessly speaking up. More people need to get "fired up", beyond all the supporters here. Her words pouring out on to the pages of her book are shocking the sensibilities of many, but not the beheadings, stoning, and hanging of the innocents? Pc or or not, she has the guts to tell it like it IS. Yes, her books should be required reading in school and colleges. Give them as gifts.
Robert, where can we write to her to send a note of our support?

Posted by: freetoBEfree at June 12, 2006 3:00 PM

Just for openers: Islam claims the crucifixtion of Jesus never took place in history.

=============

Not only do they deny dying for a person's sins, but they also deny the resurrection.

No Christian can accept this.

Posted by: Kay at June 12, 2006 3:29 PM

I think an important thing that is being missed here is that the supression of free speech is part and parcel of the entire EUSSR program. In same country - Italy - in which Fallaci is being tried in absentia, a leftist dhimmi artist is nevertheless free to display a painting of a beheaded Fallaci with nary a word of criticism, much less charges of incitement.

The nations who have signed onto the EU project have signed away their very existence as nations. All will be compelled through juducial fiat to observe similar law against "hatred", which are applied in true Orwellian fashion only to the traditional majority population, the faith that was planted there and culture that grew forth. While some find it crazy or silly that Islam is largely exempt from such laws (oh yes, a few of the more egregiously bloodthirsty Imams might get charged for show), this is actually quite consistent with the endless leftist melodrama of the free-and-equal supermen who can only emerge to take their rightful place once the evil oppressors have been destroyed. Europe's ruling elites have drunk this poison of self-hatred to its very dregs and now ally themselves with the invaders to subject their own flesh and blood to slavery. There is no hope in any serious, effective opposition to the rise of a Eurabian Caliphate until the traitors responsible are removed, discredited, and destroyed.

Absent this, anyone in Europe who values liberty had best make plans to leave or learn how to survive under dhimmitude. A long, dark age awaits - despite all the fairytales of the blissful multiculti utopia of Al-Andalus.

Posted by: Carolus at June 12, 2006 3:33 PM

Sorry JSLA but you are wrong. Its not me supporting Islam. Its not me supporting the KLA. Its not me insisting that Islam is a religion of peace. Saying you are against Islam then supporting a government that supports Islam is schizophrenic. There is only one country that has the power to change all this and that is the US. I supported Bush in both elections. He has disapointed me and others on this site. If you read why I am disapointed with the US you will understand. It has nothing to do with be brainwashed by my media or yours.

Posted by: pissedoffcanadian at June 12, 2006 5:13 PM

I don't understand what the SPECIFICS of the trial are.

This guy Abdel Smith is suing her for what exactly? What law has she supposedly broken?

The whole affair reeks of fantastic stupidity.

Posted by: The Liberal Avenger at June 12, 2006 6:10 PM

Witness, Archbishop Zycinski is one of the most progressive and intelligent representative of the Polish clergy. Renouned for his stance on Anti-Semitism and tolerance. No wonder some lower life specimen call him "Zydzinski" (Zyd mean a Jew in Polish).

http://www.nd.edu/~msigner/2005_spring/inter_religious_dialogue.shtml

Posted by: Polish infideless at June 12, 2006 6:35 PM

"This guy Abdel Smith is suing her for what exactly?"

Well if the charge really is "offending Islam", then I think the defense lawyer should make short shrift of this case by insisting that the plaintif - Islam - be brought to the stand because it would be important to ascertain that Islam has actually been offended and has suffered soome real deleterious emotional consequences from Fallaci's book. Without that witness's testimony as to the nature and extent of the damage caused to himself/herself/itself by Fallaci's "insults" - the case should be dismissed out of hand.

Posted by: Caroline at June 12, 2006 7:27 PM

Unfortunately for Ms. Fallacci and the people of the United States, western Europeans seem deluded to the point where they are almost certainly going to invent reasons why Islam is right and Ms. Fallacci is criminally wrong no matter what arguments and/or evidence is presented before Italian court officials. For the nonce, I'm cynical about western Europeans on this issue. We'll see what the courts decide in this case, but I'm not optimistic about the outcome.

I don't think there is much getting through to western Europeans at the moment. And even if we could, they aren't likely to change their present (bad) habits for anti-Islamists or anybody else for that matter.

Good luck, Ms. Fallacci. I am sorry you have been forced to deal with this unfortunate predicament.

Posted by: pythagoras at June 12, 2006 8:49 PM

Ma che vergogna! (shame!)

Posted by: Shabetai at June 12, 2006 8:52 PM

The Liberal Avenger asks: "I don't understand what the SPECIFICS of the trial are. This guy Abdel Smith is suing her for what exactly? What law has she supposedly broken?"

She has been charged with violating a law that forbids defamatory statements about a religion acknowledged by the Italian state. The offence is punishable with a fine of up to €6,000 (£4,100)....Fallaci, 77, is alleged to have made 18 blasphemous statements, including referring to Islam as "a pool that never purifies".

As I said, after World War II, several European nations made it an actual crime to defame a religion. The intent may have been noble--to prevent a resurgence of anti-Jewish hatred. But after Muslim immigrants started entering Europe in large numbers, they started using those laws to get criticism of Islam to be considered "blasphemy" and punish those critics accordingly.

If such a law existed here in the U.S., not only would Jihad Watch have to be shut down, but nearly every one of us could be charged with a crime and brought to court. (Naseem and her fellow Muslims being the only exceptions)

Posted by: Steven L. at June 12, 2006 10:35 PM

pissedoffcanadian wrote: There is only one country that has the power to change all this and that is the US. I supported Bush in both elections. He has disapointed me and others on this site.

Sorry, pissedoff, but the US is NOT the only country with the power to change all this. Each and every single time that Canadians and the UK and the French and the Germans and the Netherlands and whoever the heck else in the world currently has a h***on at the US screams and yells at how awful we are they help to CREATE the problem.

And BTW, if you are Candian then it really doesn't make damned-all who you supported in our election and whether or not our choice disappoints you. Take the log out of your own eye first please.

Posted by: gallopinggranny at June 13, 2006 2:05 AM

Any word on that English MP’s trial? You know, the socialists dragged into court for having correctly predicted 7/7.

Nick Griffin was acquitted on two of the charges. On the others, there was a hung jury, so there may be a re-trial, but unlikely.

This was a few months ago.

Posted by: Interested at June 13, 2006 5:18 AM

Any word on that English MP’s trial? You know, the socialists dragged into court for having correctly predicted 7/7.

He's not an MP, but the leader of a fringe party. The Crown Prosecution Service sought a new trial, after the jury couldn't reach a vedict on one count with which he was charged. That one had to do with comments he'd made about an "epidemic" of gang rape in a Yorkshire town. The new trial is scheduled for October.

Posted by: Yojimbo at June 13, 2006 5:31 AM

O.T.

News - Kirkuk rocked by bombings:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5074286.stm

Posted by: Yojimbo at June 13, 2006 5:34 AM

Yojimbo,
Thanks for the link. The palis are whacking it out with a merry little civil war. Checkout. :)

Posted by: arjun.sevak at June 13, 2006 6:00 AM

Hell hath no fury like a gallopinggranny spurned. She knows all about IPs -- she decries the use of profanity -- so she types out
h***on, which just about made me bust a gut.

Will you? Won't you? Won't you be my granny?

Posted by: jsla at June 13, 2006 1:07 PM

jsla, pissedoffgallopinggranny has had it right up to HERE with the entire bloody world screaming that the USA has to fix every last damned problem for everyone on the globe and then bitching a bluestreak when they don't like how we attempt to do that.

I am particularly annoyed with the segment of the so-called "civilized" world that criticizes who the American people choose to lead them. This is NOT a One World Government.

I may be a granny, but I was once a good military wife. There is little or nothing that I have not heard, very few words that I have not said at one time or another and I can "drill sergeant" with the best of them, thanks to a housefull of kids. If I type the "polite" version it is because of certain comments that have been made recently about the site being blocked from school computers by the "nanny-bot."

The entire damned world discussion has become a comedic farce a la Curly, Larry & Moe with 50 cooks in one kitchen all trying to fry the same one hamburger.

Posted by: gallopinggranny at June 13, 2006 1:40 PM

Witness - I think you are speaking of John Paul II, who did make an effort - a vain effort - to cross the bridge with Islam. However I think he lost track of what was going on in Europe throughout his time in Rome.

Benedict XVI seems to have no illusions about Islam, and perhaps even more important, he has no illusions about Europe and its present vulnerability to militant Islam, a vulnerability deriving from the Euro-elite left's obsession with political correctness, multi-culteralism and relativism.

In her book Fallaci finds herself and Benedict XVI on the same wavelength on many issues.

Posted by: Jimmy Bones at June 13, 2006 3:11 PM

Indeed! pissedoffgallopinggranny. Keep on keeping on. I'm right there with you -- I feel the exact same frustrations. Sadly, sometimes (often?) I'm guilty of allowing that to get the better of my communications.

There's a very interesting and bizarre detail in Greek mythology that has been kicking around in my head lately -- perhaps it's apt. Sometimes certain individuals were given the gift of prophecy by having divine magical snakes lick their ears until they're clean enough to 'hear' into the future. It recently occured to me that we've been whispered to by enough liars that we too have had our ears cleaned out and can see the contours emerge of a world in peril. A disturbing part of my contstruct involves the figure of Cassandra, who is sometimes depicted as receiving her gift of prophecy in this snake-facilitated manner. For those unfamiliar with Cassandra -- she was a mortal lover of Apollo who eventually betrayed him. For punishment, the God gave her the gift of prophecy, and then condemned her to live out her life without any person believing what she said. She predicted the death of Achilles and the manner of his death, she predicted the fall of Troy and many other things -- but to no avail. Let's hope that the myth bears no similarity whatsoever to the situation we find ourselves in today. But the plot line is eerily similar.

Posted by: jsla at June 13, 2006 3:37 PM

Amazing; liberals can say and print whatever they want but now we have the business of book burning and trials of the authors. I am surprised there wasn't an emergency rush to get Coulter and her new book in this also. 1938-1939 all over again.

Posted by: Endoman at June 13, 2006 6:33 PM

The logic of the rubbish in Italy (and Holland, where "Submissions 2" is being debated on whether to release it) is this;

If National Socialism was a religion, It would be unwise of the Dutch to release a film critical of the Nazi policies towards Jews, and Hitler could sue the authors of any books critical of the Nazi regime.

THAT is exactly what is happening here.
Would that have been allowed to happen though?
And would we really have given a good shit about the Nazis getting offended by being critical of them shovelling people into gas chambers?
NO....
But it seems when religions, and specifically Islam (YET AGAIN), are involved `THE NAZIS` are all of a sudden looked after, soothed and defended in a Court of law!

More people need to think on that.

Posted by: DaveyFreak at June 14, 2006 2:08 PM

BTW--many of us are greatly offended by Islam and its practices. Is this a fair assumption? I think it is.

Notice that there is at least for the time being ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANY OF US CAN DO ABOUT IT and in our own countries, no less?????

Think about it.

Posted by: pythagoras at June 14, 2006 4:42 PM