In Germany <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany>, Volksverhetzung<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksverhetzung> ("incitement of popular hatred") is a punishable offense under Section 130 of the Strafgesetzbuch <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch> (Germany's criminal code) and can lead to up to five years imprisonment. Section 130 makes it a crime to publicly incite hatred against parts of the population or to call for violent or arbitrary measures against them or to insult, maliciously slur or defame them in a manner violating their (constitutionally protected) human dignity. Volksverhetzung is punishable in Germany even if committed abroad and even if committed by non-German citizens, if only the incitement of hatred takes effect within German territory, e.g. the seditious <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedition> sentiment was expressed in German writ or speech and made accessible in Germany (German criminal code's Principle of Ubiquity<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_Ubiquity>, Section 9 §1 Alt. 3 and 4 of the Strafgesetzbuch).
Mr. SMALL: Well, in 2008, when the European Union decided to pass this legislation, they gave nations in the European Union two years to put in place mechanisms that can actually charge and prosecute offenders. And in countries like the United Kingdom, these laws are just being enacted in the next few months. So this is a relatively new legislation, but countries like Poland, Germany, Austria and Hungary had mechanisms in place before this legislation. BLOCK: You know, it's interesting to contrast these laws that we're talking about across Europe and in other countries, contrast that with the situation here in the United States. We just had the Supreme Court ruling yesterday that gave strong First Amendment protection to hateful speech, no matter how painful it might be. It seems that the U.S. is really the exception rather than the rule on that. Mr. SMALL: Yes, it's definitely the exception. And I think it's troubling. In a sense, we've watched the changes that are sweeping through the Middle East and many people credit the Internet, Facebook with sort of spreading the values and democracy and freedom of speech, which is wonderful. At the same time, hate groups are also speaking and their messages are being heard further than they were decades ago. And, in fact, the United States of America has become the space or the place where hate groups use URLs or create websites based in the United States because they're protected under the First Amendment. And I think this is something that policymakers really need to address. How do you balance First Amendment and the Constitution and yet stop people from harming other people? BLOCK: I wonder, though, what you would say to people who would argue that if you suppress free speech, if you push this hate speech underground, you don't make it go away and, in fact, you may make it more dangerous because it's not in the public sphere. Mr. SMALL: I don't think that limitations, say, if you take the case of Canada or the European Union, that it's not Draconian laws where people aren't able to speak freely or to articulate views. We know from the history of anti-Semitism, for example, that anti-Semitism begins with Jews, but it never ends with Jews. That once this hatred is unleashed on society, other marginalized groups become the victims. There is a need to curtail some forms of speech and it's just, how do we make the balance? BLOCK: Charles Asher Small directs the Yale Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Anti-Semitism. Thanks very much for being with us. Mr. SMALL: Thank you. Copyright © 2011 NPR. ---- Jews have too much influence over U.S. foreign policy. Gay men are too promiscuous. Muslims commit too much terrorism. Blacks commit too much crime.Each of those claims is poorly stated. Each, in its clumsy way, addresses a real problem or concern. And each violates laws against hate speech. In much of what we call the free world, for writing that paragraph, I could be jailed. Libertarians, cultural conservatives, and racists have complained about these laws for years. But now the problem has turned global. Islamic governments, angered by an anti-Muslim video<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAiOEV0v2RM> that provoked protests and riots in their countries<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/human_nature/2012/09/mohammed_movie_embassy_attacks_don_t_let_internet_videos_drive_you_to_violence_.html>, are demanding to know why insulting the Prophet Mohammed is free speech but vilifying Jews and denying the Holocaust isn’t. And we don’t have a good answer If we’re going to preach freedom of expression around the world, we have to practice it. We have to scrap our hate-speech laws. Muslim leaders want us to extend these laws. At this week’s meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, they lobbied for tighter censorship<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/world/united-nations-general-assembly.html>. Egypt’s president said freedom of expression shouldn’t include speech that is “used to incite hatred<http://www.latinospost.com/articles/4611/20120926/egypts-mohammed-morsi-un-general-assembly-speech-mubarak-united-nations-transcript.htm>” or “directed towards one specific religion.” Pakistan’s president urged the “international community” to “criminalize” acts that “endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression<http://new-pakistan.com/2012/09/26/transcript-of-president-zardaris-speech-before-un-general-assembly/>.” Yemen’s president called for “international legislation” to suppress speech that “blasphemes the beliefs of nations and defames their figures<http://webtv.un.org/search/yemen-general-debate-67th-session/1862741451001>.” The Arab League’s secretary-general proposed a binding “international legal framework” to “criminalize psychological and spiritual harm<http://www.boston.com/news/world/middle-east/2012/09/26/arab-league-calls-for-criminalization-blasphemy/qYTHalaGM1uoxedsF1FeKM/story.html>” caused by expressions that “insult the beliefs, culture and civilization of others." President Obama, while condemning the video, met these proposals with a stout defense<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/25/remarks-president-un-general-assembly> of free speech. Switzerland’s president agreed: “Freedom of opinion and of expression are core values guaranteed universally which must be protected<http://www.news.admin.ch/message/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=46111>.” And when a French magazine published cartoons poking fun at Mohammed<http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/19/world/europe/france-mohammed-cartoon/index.html>, the country’s prime minister insisted that French laws protecting free speech extend to caricatures<http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2012/09/19/la-manif-de-samedi-contre-le-film-anti-islam-sera-interdite_847319> . This debate between East and West, between respect and pluralism, isn’t a crisis. It’s a stage of global progress. The Arab spring has freed hundreds of millions of Muslims<http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2011/07/springtime_for_twitter.html> from the political retardation of dictatorship. They’re taking responsibility for governing themselves and their relations with other countries. They’re debating one another and challenging us. And they should, because we’re hypocrites. >From >Pakistan<http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/21-Sep-2012/un-should-frame-laws-to-stop-blasphemous-acts-pm> to Iran <http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9106242604> to Saudi Arabia<http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/west%E2%80%99s-speech-%E2%80%98double-standard%E2%80%99-flayed> to Egypt <http://213.158.162.45/~egyptian/index.php?action=news&id=27767> to Nigeria <http://nationalmirroronline.net/news/52006.html> to the United Kingdom <http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=5964>, Muslims scoff<http://voices.news24.com/mohamed-saeed/2012/09/criminalise-blasphemy/>at our rhetoric<http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/13998/denying-the-holocaust-is-also-freedom-of-expression/> about free speech<http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20120924137264>. They point to European laws against questioning the Holocaust<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/19/world/europe/19iht-eu.4.5359640.html>. Monday on CNN, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad needled British interviewer Piers Morgan<http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1209/24/pmt.01.html>: “Why in Europe has it been forbidden for anyone to conduct any research about this event? Why are researchers in prison? … Do you believe in the freedom of thought and ideas, or no?” On Tuesday, Pakistan’s U.N. ambassador, speaking for theOrganization of Islamic Cooperation<http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2264847&language=en>, told the U.N. Human Rights Council<http://webtv.un.org/search/pakistan-general-debate-item:-9-30th-meeting/1860602446001> : We are all aware of the fact that laws exist in Europe and other countries which impose curbs, for instance, on anti-Semitic speech, Holocaust denial, or racial slurs. We need to acknowledge, once and for all, that Islamophobia in particular and discrimination on the basis of religion and belief are contemporary forms of racism and must be dealt with as such. Not to do so would be a clear example of double standards. Islamophobia has to be treated in law and practice equal to the treatment given to anti-Semitism. He’s right. Laws throughout Europe forbid any expression<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_against_Holocaust_denial> that “minimizes,” “trivializes,” “belittles,” “plays down,” “contests,” or “puts in doubt” Nazi crimes. Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic extend this prohibition to communist atrocities. These laws carry jail sentences of up to five years. Germany adds two years for anyone who “disparages the memory of a deceased person.” Hate speech laws go further. Germany punishes anyone found guilty of “insulting” or “defaming segments of the population.” The Netherlands bans anything that “verbally or in writing or image, deliberately offends a group of people because of their race, their religion or beliefs, their hetero- or homosexual orientation or their physical, psychological or mental handicap.” It’s illegal to “insult”<http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do;jsessionid=1B09771D3B23D96B137C9169E86B67F4.tpdjo13v_2?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000257363> such a group in France, to “defame” them in Portugal, to “degrade<http://www.dkdebat.dk/smartcms/sider/racismeparagraffen.htm>” them in Denmark, or to “expresses contempt<http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c4/15/36/d74ceabc.pdf>” for them in Sweden. In Switzerland, it’s illegal to “demean” them even with a “gesture.” Canada punishes anyone who “willfully promotes hatred<http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-153.html>.” The United Kingdom outlaws “insulting words or behavior<http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64>” that arouse “racial hatred.” Romania forbids the possession of xenophobic “symbols.” On Friday, September 6, 2013 11:43:23 AM UTC-5, Travis wrote: > > > > > > **I hope he sues and wins big time bucks. > creeping posted: "Taking their cue from the terror-linked, FBI-banned > group CAIR? via Hamburg Walmart manager fired over anti-Muslim posting - > City & Region - The Buffalo News. A Facebook rant about Muslims by an > employee of a Walmart store in Hamburg has prompted the" Respond to > this post by replying above this line > New post on *Creeping Sharia* > <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/author/creeping/> New York: Walmart > enforcing sharia blasphemy law? Fires manager over anti-Muslim > post<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/new-york-walmart-enforcing-sharia-blasphemy-law-fires-manager-over-anti-muslim-post/> > by > creeping <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/author/creeping/> > > Taking their cue from the terror-linked, FBI-banned group CAIR? via > Hamburg Walmart manager fired over anti-Muslim posting - City & Region - > The Buffalo News. A Facebook rant about Muslims by an employee of a Walmart > store in Hamburg has prompted the retail giant to fire the man. The > derogatory posting on Friday morning was […] > > Read more of this > post<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/new-york-walmart-enforcing-sharia-blasphemy-law-fires-manager-over-anti-muslim-post/> > *creeping <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/author/creeping/>* | > September 6, 2013 at 11:19 AM | Tags: > cair<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=cair>, > Creeping Sharia <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=creeping-sharia>, > islam <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=islam>, > law<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=law>, > Legal <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=legal>, litigation > jihad<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=litigation-jihad>, > Media <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=media>, > Muslim<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=muslim>, > New York <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=new-york>, > News<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=news>, > Obama <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=obama>, > Politics<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=politics>, > Random <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=random>, > Religion<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=religion>, > Sharia <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?tag=sharia> | Categories: > Creeping > Sharia <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=4115925>, > Legal<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=2283>, > Media <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=292>, New > York<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=4614>, > News <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=103>, > Politics<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=398>, > Religion <http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=116>, > Sharia<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/?cat=29069>| URL: > http://wp.me/pbU4v-fvp > > > Comment<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/new-york-walmart-enforcing-sharia-blasphemy-law-fires-manager-over-anti-muslim-post/#respond> > > See all > comments<http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/new-york-walmart-enforcing-sharia-blasphemy-law-fires-manager-over-anti-muslim-post/#comments> > > > Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage > Subscriptions<https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=80d8873ee52adffe4e178d01c25562cf&email=goosepickles%40gmail.com>. > > > > *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser: > > http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/new-york-walmart-enforcing-sharia-blasphemy-law-fires-manager-over-anti-muslim-post/ > > Thanks for flying with WordPress.com <http://wordpress.com> > > > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
