He's the 76th most viewed video today.

That's an amazing number isn't it?

Actually i have no idea.. i have no idea how many people that is. but it sounds good.

Posted by: Vince at January 13, 2008 12:27 AM

Instant classic! Ezra's answer to the "intent" question is one of the best responses I have ever heard! Deny moral authority of the Kangaroo court! Bravo Bravo Bravo!!

Levant promises even more video to be provided at his blog in the days to come. http://www.ezralevant.com/

Posted by: heroyalwhyness at January 13, 2008 12:31 AM

We need more like this one, when even most of the Right, who always whines about PC, is afraid to take such a stark stand.

Posted by: Dumbo at January 13, 2008 12:55 AM

At about 2:50 the sound goes out on my computer. Is this a general problem, or my problem?

Posted by: Hugh at January 13, 2008 1:04 AM

Priceless!

Ezra is a riot!

That's what sheik yer'mami should have done in the mediation sessions with an imam who claimed he was vilified and made death threats...

Stay tuned!

Posted by: sheik yer'mami at January 13, 2008 1:23 AM

I heard the whole thing - maybe open this up in Youtube and then listen.

On Mr Levant's rejoinder, I fully agree and cheer him for not watering down the reasons that the Saudi imams would have pinned him down for.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at January 13, 2008 1:30 AM

In particular, I love his 'I published it in the most unreasonable manner... whatever offends you... Prophet Mohammed is dead btw, so I don't think I've offended him...'

Priceless!

Posted by: Infidel Pride at January 13, 2008 1:32 AM

Hugh, I'm a night owl and have not encountered your problem yet at 2:50. Has it happened often at that time?

Posted by: nichtdhimmi at January 13, 2008 1:50 AM

I can't wait to see what the newsmedia do with this! Levant has taken what the media do, every time they're denied access to info, to a new level.
In the case of the media, they go to court trying to GET publication rights; he's saying to the 'courts' (HRC), "Try and stop me."
He's not doing this for himself, he's doing it for me and thee. You're a better man than me, Ezra.

Posted by: DaninVan at January 13, 2008 2:19 AM

I lived in communism and have seen a lot of stuff, but I never - in my worst nightmares - dreamed about this happening in the USA or Canada...

Bravo Ezra!
It's our bloody right!

Posted by: LazarOfSerbia at January 13, 2008 2:51 AM

I have never said this about anyone before, ever, but GOD BLESS EZRA! This is the kind of guy I keep hoping will enter, and win, the presidential race here in the USA!

Posted by: scooter at January 13, 2008 8:16 AM

Reminds me of Patrick Henry's statement, "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Just a quick question, Canada doesn't have freedom of speech, does it? Also, doesn't the woman look SHOCKED at what Mr. Levant is saying?

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical at January 13, 2008 8:37 AM

Brilliant!

Ezra, I'm grateful.

Posted by: Morgaan Sinclair at January 13, 2008 8:37 AM

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!!

Anti-Dhimmi 2008.

The best form of defence is attack, and he did it. Clearly and articularly.

He published because he has the right to do so. He doesn't need to justify that to anyone. What part of that don't you understand?

Posted by: Celsius at January 13, 2008 9:02 AM

Very nice explanation. Yes we do stop some kinds of speech but it is usually speech that is libelous (Muhammed it dead and past libel) or dangerous (such as a speech urging the murder of immigrants).

Posted by: Jerry M at January 13, 2008 9:55 AM

This YouTube tape should -- will - be used in Constitutional Law courses, all over the United States.

In discussing the issue of American "free speech," it will be appropriate, even necessary, to show students the Danish cartoons (and discuss that brouhaha), the ones then reprinted by Levant in Canada, and will wish students to compare what happened in Denmark, as a belated and organized reaction (Muslim ambassadors recalled, economic boycotts in Arab and other Muslim countries, the attempt by Muslims in Denmark to whip up Muslim rage against Denmark, the death-threats against Danes abroad, the attacks on Danish institutions and embassies) with what appears to be happening in Canada, and with First Amendment jurisprudence.

And finally, professors teaching courses in Constitutional Law, Comparative Law, and Human Rights Law, will wish to have students set side by side, and then carefully study and compare, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its "Islamic" equivalent, the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights.

That will be instructive.

Posted by: Hugh at January 13, 2008 10:04 AM

If any of you are interested, you see all the rest of his videos here of the kangaroo court. He certainly doesn't mince his words. I give him an A++ for his, raised middle finger, stuff you attitude. Here in the link by the way

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EzraILevant

This sort of thing has nothing to do with rights it has everything to do with blasphemy. They are trying to force us to conform with the present modern stinking new orthodoxy Multiculturalism. They are diligently sniffing any deviation. They are the new thought police. Once this gets established then we are all doomed to live in a totalitarian state. We in Europe are really on the edge now, if the new laws recommended by the E.U. to combat racism and xenophobia are brought in the next couple of years Europe is doomed. You are then on your own America. If these laws are brought in then commissions like this will be able to decide what is racist or Xenophobic, not the law courts or even the parliament. They will be able to hound people they think have committed such crimes with prison, bankruptcy they will even make it impossible for him to make a living. They will be able to go after you Americans and Canadians if you post comments on Bloggs in Europe that they think have offended the new orthodoxy .You have been warned.

Posted by: Holger Dansker at January 13, 2008 10:28 AM

Nice one Hugh

And finally, professors teaching courses in Constitutional Law, Comparative Law, and Human Rights Law, will wish to have students set side by side, and then carefully study and compare, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its "Islamic" equivalent, the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights.

You have got to be joking, if the new laws proposed in the E.U. ever get on the statute books and there is a bloody good chance that they will. These laws are to stop discussion or to come to conclusions that don't confirm the prejudices of this new orthodoxy. It will only take one sniveling little pip squeak on this commission, to take offense and you will go straight to jail you will not pass go and you will end up paying a hell of a lot more than $200. These new laws go against all the tenets of American and British Jurisprudence you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Here you are GUILTY until maybe you are proved innocent. They will be able to have a second go at you because they will be no double jeopardy. They will hound you until they get the verdict that they want. Remember also that these laws have a higher precedence than the laws of the country.

Posted by: Holger Dansker at January 13, 2008 10:53 AM

The fifth video here is very short

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0B-lYfYXmM

The interesting part comes at the end. After listening to his comment the thought commissar say “you are entitled to your opinions”. He answers,” I wish that was a fact”. The dumb nut commissar doesn't realize that if he was entitled to his opinions he would be in front of the commission in the bloody first place.

Posted by: Holger Dansker at January 13, 2008 11:06 AM

Such an irony to see human rights organizations acting as thought police in Canada on behalf of Muslims in an attempt to suppress free speech.

If you think the Ezra Levant situation is a tough one, read this story that was written back in October of 2002 on a case that dates back a full decade now in Canada.

Beware it may make you a bit angry.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29483

Posted by: Mackie at January 13, 2008 11:11 AM

Back in the day, way back when the only other member of Islam was Mohammed's first wife Khadija, the rich widow, every day he would preach from the streets of Mecca. His "preachings" featured threats of damnation, pestilence, robbery, and doom to all who failed to show fidelity to the new religion.

People responded to the street sermons by criticizing and mocking Islam, and the Moslems were deeply offended. Both of them.

Ain't nothing changed in the 1,398 years since, except the creation of awful organizations like the United Nations, NBC, the EU, NPR, and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at January 13, 2008 12:05 PM

I have repeatedly posted that, in the anti-jihad, leadership is the key.

If we can be blessed with a political leader as eloquent as Ezra Levant who will use the bully pulpit of his office to explain the Islamist threat, we will win this struggle. If we are left with leadership like the "Human Rights" Commission official sitting across the desk from him, we will lose the civilization that took millenia to build.

Here again is the site for six Youtube clips of this hearing: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EzraILevant

Every user of this site should copy that link and email it to friends, relatives, politicians, and newspaper editors and urge them to view it.

And thank you to JihadWatch for your leadership. If only 30 million people viewed this site daily, rather than only 30 thousand. On the other hand, even 300 people can make a difference in preserving a civilization.

Posted by: Karl at January 13, 2008 12:12 PM

What counts is not only who directly clicks on the site, but how often material at the site is sent on, by those who click, to others, or included in mass e-mailings to a large group of recipients. And then there are those who -- as you know perfectly well -- often write their columns based on what has been suggested, or written, here.

As these seeds are sown on other websites (including those where articles firstput up here have been translated, into French, Dutch, German, Spanish, Russian, and so on) and hence, implanted in many other minds, there is an obvious -- what's it called? -- multiplier effect.

Posted by: Hugh at January 13, 2008 1:19 PM

The statements made in those five YouTube videos deserve being written down and translated into all major languages. Any volunteers with time to spare? In the opposite case, I shall dedicate whatever time I find during the next few weeks to this task.

Posted by: otranto at January 13, 2008 1:51 PM

The opening statement was really awesome: I'm sure all the others are as well.

Only disagreement with Ezra - at the end of the clip 'The real violence in Edmonton', he states that 'if the leader of the Supreme council for Islam is a descendent of Mohammed, he dafames his ancestor.' Mr Levant, that's the one thing you got wrong in your otherwise flawless presentation.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at January 13, 2008 3:24 PM

Monday morning at the AHRC office:
"Hey, I saw you on YouTube last night..."
*LOL*

Posted by: DaninVan at January 13, 2008 3:45 PM

Mr Levant is welcome in my home any time, day or night. I hope he has a good security staff who shoot-on-sight any threatening person, male or female.

As for the Lady, throw her into the prison yard at Guantanamo, and don't let her out until she begs for her life.

Posted by: AmericanTiger at January 13, 2008 4:30 PM

I wonder what's worse?

Canada or Israel?

If not Israel, then maybe Israel?

Help!

Posted by: Shy Guy at January 13, 2008 4:31 PM

Lionheart's story is true

It s in his local paper.

http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunday%2Dnews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=248045

Police lie in wait for blogger accused of stiring up racial hatred online

Posted by: leonthepigfarmer at January 13, 2008 4:51 PM

Ezra Levant, eh? Interesting name.

As one Commonwealth member to another, this Australian says to the Canadian - 'good on ya mate'.

BTW - those Danish cartoons are pretty mild, really. (I just had another look at them, on Levant's site).

I wouldn't classify any of them as inciting hatred - even the 'Mohammed with turban-as-bomb' can be understood as a quick visual representation of the fact that many people identifying themselves as followers of Mohammed have performed acts of violence and justified those acts from Mohammedan texts.

My personal favourite, for black humour, is the 'we've run out of virgins!' number. The parade of suicide bombers, standing in line, have such marvellously gormless expressions on their faces.

The Danish cartoons are perfectly innocuous if compared to the various anti-Israel/anti-Zionist cartoons I've seen, many of which are truly ARE hateful, and which have appeared in Western media as well as in the Arab/ Muslim press.

If you want some more un-PC fun, go look up Belgian artist Herge's classic 'Tintin' graphic novels and find the one entitled "The Land of Black Gold". If I recall correctly, it includes that hoary comic chestnut, the hero donning full niqab in order to elude the bad guys.

And isn't there a 'three stooges' episode where they end up in a harem?

Pile it on, pile it on. According to Ali Sina, himself a former Muslim who ought to know what he's talking about, ridicule, ridicule and MORE ridicule - directed toward all those elements of Islamic teaching and history, and actions of Mohammed himself, that truly are both ridiculous and evil - is just what's needed.

Islam isn't an ethnic group, a 'race'. It's a politico-religious belief system. A set of ideas. As such, in the West, where all belief systems are subject to relentless examination, and any incongruities thus exposed may be seized upon by satirists and comedians, the teachings and texts of Islam should expect no quarter. It deserves no more respect than Nazism or Communism, liberalism or conservatism.

Posted by: dumbledoresarmy at January 13, 2008 6:07 PM

Absolutely excellent defense.

Christians are constantly bombarded with material far more offensive than these cartoons. Whether its "Piss Christ", "Life of Brian", "Last Temptation of Christ", 'comedy' shows such as "MAD TV" or SNL, or cartoons such as "American Dad" and "Family Guy"... Jesus and Christians are constantly made the subject of offensive ridicule.

But you don't see Christians taking to the street with death threats!

If you live in a free society, you have to learn to live with a thick skin.

Its perfectly alright to express your dismay when someone attacks a dearly held belief, but it should not be turned into a criminal act, as the Canadian government appears to be doing here.

Posted by: StephenDvd at January 13, 2008 10:40 PM

I cannot believe this ever made it to a "Human Rights Commission" or that they took those "complaints" seriously!

They should have written to the complainants:
"Welcome to a free society. This is how it works.

You are welcome to pursue your complaints through the courts and/or to exercise your concomitant right to grow up."

Unbelievable!

Posted by: carpediadem at January 13, 2008 11:10 PM

Levant really only needed to say one thing -
Why did he publish those cartoons?

Because they were part of the news.

Posted by: carpediadem at January 13, 2008 11:18 PM

Your Youtube link appears to be broken -- at least I can't use it. No matter, the LGF link works, and Levant has given even more on his own site.

I think I change my vote for anti-Dhimmi of the year (or maybe I should save this for next year). Steyn/Levant should be jointly awarded it for taking on the Canadian Human Rights Commissions on this issue. By next year's award nominations it should be clear what affect they've had, and whether they've had to take the bullet for free speech and antidhimmitude; but the outcome shouldn't really affect the vote...

Posted by: Archimedes2 at January 13, 2008 11:56 PM

After seeing all of Levant's videos, I can't wait to see Mark Steyn take on the slow witted civil servants at the Canadian HRC. That should be blood sport.

Well done Ezra.

Posted by: johnb at January 14, 2008 3:42 PM

I love the Levant videos!

Posted by: Silly Allah at January 16, 2008 2:11 PM