Freedom of Speech on Trial: Lisbon (December) and Amsterdam (January)

by **Tony Bennett** 06.12.09 16:27

One crucial 'freedom of speech' trial - that of Goncalo Amaral in Lisbon on Friday when he defends his right to publish 'A Verdada de Mentira' - will soon be followed by another beginning in Amsterdam, Holland, on 20 January, when Dutch M.P. Geert Wilders, someshat ironically some may feel, has been indicted on a charge of 'incitement to violence':

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/12/geert-wilders-receives-summons-a-sledgehammer-blow-to-the-freedom-of-speech.html

by preciousramotswe 06.12.09 16:29

If you would like to link the two then go ahead but personally I don't think you are doing either of them any favours.

by **Tony Bennett** 06.12.09 17:58

badmanners wrote:If you would like to link the two then go ahead but personally I don't think you are doing either of them any favours.

Voltaire:

"I disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

Denial of free speech has claimed some important victims in the past.

Archbishop Cranmer for one, burnt at the stake here in 1555 hust for opposing Roman Catholic doctrine.

Then of course there was Jesus Christ.

Executed...crucified in fact, for what he said.

The political and religious establishment of the time didn't like his words.

They preferred to set a murderer free

by Guest 06.12.09 18:24

Tony Bennett wrote:
badmanners wrote:If you would like to link the two then go ahead but personally I don't think you are doing either of them any favours.
Voltaire:

"I disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

Denial of free speech has claimed some important victims in the past.

Archbishop Cranmer for one, burnt at the stake here in 1555 hust for opposing Roman Catholic doctrine.

Then of course there was Jesus Christ.

Executed...crucified in fact, for what he said.

The political and religious establishment of the time didn't like his words.

They preferred to set a murderer free

Actaully wasn't Jesus killed for going round preaching. And it was not for what he said but being the Son Of God.