Update MfFE
This report from Patrick Goodenough at Townhall.com underlines the urgent need for a campaign in support of Free Expression:
"Islamic groups and governments are pressing ahead with a campaign to have international organizations take steps, including legal ones, to provide protection for their religion in the wake of the Mohammed cartoon controversy. In a drive pursued largely away from the headlines, the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) is promoting the issue at the United Nations and European Union, and having some success.
The executive council of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) this month approved an agenda item entitled ‘respect for freedom of expression, sacred beliefs, values and religious and cultural symbols.’ Introduced by more than 30 Islamic states and the subject of considerable debate, the motion explicitly tied freedom of expression to ‘respect for cultural diversity, religious beliefs and religious symbols.’...The UNESCO move is just the latest illustration of the way the OIC and its 56 member states are using the cartoon episode to apply pressure on the West to comply with Islamic norms… In another development, it was reported last week that E.U. bureaucrats are drawing up a ‘lexicon’ of terminology to use when referring to Islam. Words like ‘Islamist’ and ‘jihad’ are under review, as is the phrase ‘Islamic terrorism.’"
WHO are the governments going along with the religious protection angle? WHY is it being organised away from public arena? WHY are the press, big blusterers on press freedom whenever their lurid personal exposes are challenged, so silent again?
The MfFE is in the process of being well reorganised. Regional groups are being sought outside London. How about globally folks?
Also - Peter (Voltaire who set up the MfFE blog) is being challenged to a debate at the Oxford Debating Society on May 3rd. With the usual hotair Ismaeel who heads up the Muslim Global Civility blog is suggesting two rooms be booked to accommodate the huge numbers 'on his side' he expects to turn up. Nicely put!
"The room booked at the moment is the Miles Room in St Peter'sCollege, which apparently seats up to 40 people. We have advised the Oxford Secular Society to book a larger room as we have a large demand from people to attend on our side . Starting time will be 7.30pm. Speaking for the MAC will be Shaykh Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi, his second has yet to be confirmed. As far as we are aware Peter Risdon will be speaking to oppose the motion'
Oh and the motion?
"The House proposes that Free Expression be regulated by the Proclamation of Global Civility"
Ooooookay.
(I wish i could tell you Peters hilarious response to this as the meeting a week ago but better not)
posted by Alison @ 9:05 pm
5 Comments:
Doesn't this show how far we still have to go?
The MAC have publicised the debate to get their supporters along. There is sod all on the MfFE site.
We need to get etter at mobilising our supporters.
i thought peter said he had it covered at oxford with students, fully booked.
Hi, Chas.
Where have you seen debates like that? Is this a new thing? I haven't seen it here in upstate New York. Is it happening in bigger cities with larger muslim populations and/or college campuses?
The CAIR meeting that Troll and I attended in Philly Alan. The Moslem imam attempted to use Biblical scripture but it was used to justify killing. He also attempted to use an old law in MA. to justify killing blasphemers.
The imam also brought lackeys who stood in the back of the room and shouted out in agreement when the imam would start yelling about being how Moslems are discriminated against.
It's a nasty scene and they don't want to hear from you. They will, however, be shocked if someone stands up to them. Amazing to see really. It appears that Moslems are comfortable in their assumption that their intimidation has put us in our place.
I wish I could come with a big sign. I really do. Get alot together - you will need support. It's going to be a trip.
I think the motion is idiotic and expect Peter to dismiss as such. Thats why it isnt getting the air time on the blog, its distracting nonsense. The main concern here is the portion above in the post relating to the UN. And Steves right, we have a lot to do. We need to be worrying about those issues. I think the idea is for us to push our agendas not for them to push theirs. For that reason there is a debate and exhibition being organised by the MfE in a few weeks where the cartoons will be displayed. In the background i HOPE there is a lot of work going on to get the new website up which will really get things moving.
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