Category Archives: Free Speech

Osgoode Hall v Mark Steyn

June 10, 2008 – 8:35 am

This whole Mark Steyn fooferaw just gets slimier and slimier.
It appears that Canada’s leading law school is busily turning out the Human Rights equivalent of ambulance chasers. The main man on Steyn’s case (referred to as ‘Head Sock’ all over steynonline) is one Kharrum Awan, a recent graduate of Osgoode Hall School of Law (a [...]

By skepticlawyer | Also posted in Law | Comments (37)

Economics v Islam: a cage match

June 8, 2008 – 7:31 am

“We’re the ones who will change you,” the Norwegian imam Mullah Krekar told the Oslo newspaper Dagbladet in 2006. “Just look at the development within Europe, where the number of Muslims is expanding like mosquitoes. Every Western woman in the EU is producing an average of 1.4 children. Every Muslim woman in the same countries [...]

By skepticlawyer | Also posted in Economics, Feminism, Immigration, Skeptics | Comments (30)

Human rights and criticising Islam

June 7, 2008 – 12:20 am

I’ve been following the case brought by the Ontario-based Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) against Mark Steyn in the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. And as per Pete M’s request, I’m writing a post on it (in the middle of the night because I’m an insomniac). Perhaps, as per John Hasenkam’s comment in response to Pete, [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Human/Civil rights, Law, Media, Personal liberty, Politics, Racism, Religion, Society | Comments (31)

Of good character

June 3, 2008 – 10:19 pm

The requirement of being “of good character” is one with which lawyers are familiar. After all, we have to show that we are fit and proper persons before we can be admitted to practice (as outlined in this post about plagiarist law students). Generally, when I think about someone being “of good character”, I think [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Human/Civil rights, Immigration, Law, Personal liberty, Politics, Terrorism | Comments (8)

Freedom of speech to speak foolishly…

May 15, 2008 – 9:09 pm

Continuing on the American theme from Helen’s conference post below, I thought I might mention this amusing First Amendment case, Purtell v Mason. I’ll let Sykes J from the Seventh Circuit of the United State Court of Appeals introduce the story:
The setting is a neighborhood feud. The case features an unsightly, 38-foot recreational vehicle stored [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Law, Personal liberty | Comments (4)

Public Service Announcement: Fitna

March 29, 2008 – 3:21 am

For those who’ve been following the developing debate over Dutch film Fitna, it’s now finished up all over the internet (as I expected it would). Pommy over at the Australian Libertarian Society has a link, as does Saint at Dog Fight at Bankstown. Once I’ve watched it, I’ll update this post. In the meantime, your [...]

By skepticlawyer | Also posted in Religion | Comments (38)

The Oxford Union does its thang…

November 28, 2007 – 1:43 pm

Not sure if this has made the news in Oz, but it’s been front page news over here for nigh on a week. I’ve written a piece for the Telegraph (not the Oz version, the British version), to which you’re free to add your comments (it seems to be similar to the Guardian’s ‘Comment is [...]

By skepticlawyer | Comments (53)

LDP at APEC (and lots of other goodies, too)

September 12, 2007 – 12:02 am

Catallaxy regular Fatfingers showed just how dexterous he can be at the APEC protests last week. If you follow the links below, you’ll be able to take a gander at the photographs he took, with some pretty decent video footage to follow. He’s in the process of editing the latter, so if anyone wants copies, [...]

By skepticlawyer | Also posted in Events | Comments (7)

(Drumroll) and the Winner is…

February 8, 2007 – 11:19 pm

A while ago, we here at Catallaxy decided that the best way to respond to Australia’s very own thick sheik was to take the piss out of him. Jason started referring to him as Australian Islam’s Sir Les Patterson, while I went a step further and launched a funnies competition. Regular commenter JC kicked in [...]

By skepticlawyer | Comments (13)

The Chronicles of Hilalia

January 16, 2007 – 12:40 am

Tanja from Poligoths has contributed a very special Thick Sheik Competition entry. She informs us she originally had a better tagline, but wanted to avoid both a fatwa and libel suit.
All I can say is it must have been a bloody ripper, because this one is damn good.
Other entries so far are here and here. [...]

By skepticlawyer | Comments (24)