Category: International

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Justice, Lawyering, Military, Politics, Supreme Court

The CIA’s Whitewash Investigation of Itself

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Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)-Weekend Contributor

It is unfortunately not surprising that anything that the CIA does should be considered suspect.  When the CIA recently came under fire for allegedly spying on Senate computers, no one, except the Senators who were spied on were surprised.  Now that Director John Brennan has completed his internal “investigation” into the matter, the truth has come out.  John Brennan says he and the CIA did nothing wrong! Continue reading “The CIA’s Whitewash Investigation of Itself” →

Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Lebanese Government Declares Miss Lebanon Will Not Be Stripped Of Crown After Selfie With Miss Israel

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

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We previously reported HERE the bizarre and saddening controversy involving Miss Universe contestant Saly Greige representing Lebanon who was photographed in a selfie by Miss Israel Doron Matalon. The event caused a row that could have stripped Saly of her crown for violating Lebanese fraternization prohibitions with citizens of Israel.

Now, a Lebanese government official announced that no sanctions would be taken against the young hopeful.

Continue reading “Lebanese Government Declares Miss Lebanon Will Not Be Stripped Of Crown After Selfie With Miss Israel” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International

Boston Mayor Bans Sports Sedition: Walsh Prohibits Any Negative Talk About the Olympics By City Employees

Marty_Walsh220px-US_Navy_031029-N-6236G-001_A_painting_of_President_John_Adams_(1735-1826),_2nd_president_of_the_United_States,_by_Asher_B._Durand_(1767-1845)-cropThis month I wrote a column for the Washington Post on the crackdown of free speech in France and we have previously discussed the decline of free speech values in the West. (here and here and here). This has included attacks in the United States (here and here and here and here). Now, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has prepared his city for its bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics by effectively suspending free speech for city employees and banning them from uttering any negative comments about the Games or the process. I suppose Walsh can cite John Adams’ infamous use of the Alien and Sedition Acts as precedent.

Continue reading “Boston Mayor Bans Sports Sedition: Walsh Prohibits Any Negative Talk About the Olympics By City Employees” →

Bizarre, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder? Lebanese Beauty Pageant Contestant Put Under Investigation After Appearing In A Selfie With The Israeli Contestant

1421711309674The intense animosity between Israel and its Arab neighbors was put into sharp relief last week when a simple selfie at a beauty pageant triggered a full fledged criminal investigation. Miss Israel Doron Matalon (first from left) snapped a selfie at the pageant and posted it. Someone noticed that the smiling contestant next to her was Saly Griege, this year’s Miss Lebanon (second from left). The reaction was seismic and sad. It appears that fraternization, like beauty, remains in the eye of the beholder.

Continue reading “Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder? Lebanese Beauty Pageant Contestant Put Under Investigation After Appearing In A Selfie With The Israeli Contestant” →

Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion

Turkish President Erdoğan Continues To Make Bizarre Statements. This Time It Is Terrorist Outrages

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

220px-Erdogan_croppedOnly several days after world leaders converged on Paris to express solidarity with the French People and remorse for the victims’ families of recent terrorist attacks there, Turkish President Recip Erdoğan provided the world another gaffe that nested between the bizarre and the mysterious.

Though Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu attended the memorial led by numerous heads of state in a parade rally, a significant step backwards occurred when President Erdoğan later proclaimed that Muslims have never taken part in terrorist massacres.

Continue reading “Turkish President Erdoğan Continues To Make Bizarre Statements. This Time It Is Terrorist Outrages” →

Courts, Criminal law, International, Politics, Society

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Opens Examination Of Situation In Palestine Weeks After PA Grants ICC Jurisdiction

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

150px-International_Criminal_Court_logo.svgIn a sign of additional international scrutiny to come for the conflicts within the areas administered by the Palestinian Authority, the International Criminal Court (ICC) received a declaration on January 1st granting the ICC jurisdiction within Palestine. Following this, and the behest of the PA, the ICC Prosecutor opened an examination into the events occurring within PA administered territories.

Continue reading “International Criminal Court Prosecutor Opens Examination Of Situation In Palestine Weeks After PA Grants ICC Jurisdiction” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Not Charlie: Pope Francis Declares That There Must Be “Limits” To Free Speech In Criticizing Religion

120px-Pope_Francis_in_March_2013_(cropped)707192-une-charlie-png.jpgAs many on this blog know, I am a great fan of Pope Francis who has brought an inspiring leadership to the Church that has drawn millions back to the faith. Given that admiration, I was disheartened to read the Pope’s comment on free speech today. I ran a column last weekend on how world leaders are failing over themselves to “Stand With Charlie” after the massacre of editors and staff at Charlie Hebdo magazine. However, the West has been rolling back on free speech rights, including some of these very leaders. Pope Francis added his view this week to those insisting that free speech must have limits when it comes to insulting people about their religion. It is a disappointing observation, particularly when coupled with a rather poor analogy.

Continue reading “Not Charlie: Pope Francis Declares That There Must Be “Limits” To Free Speech In Criticizing Religion” →

Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Society

Austria Moves To Expropriate Hitler’s Childhood Home To Prevent Its Use As A Shrine

Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers in Braunau am Inn225px-adolf_hitler_cph_3a48970The town officials in Braunau, Austria have a bit of a problem. They have a pretty Renaissance home with “location, location, location” but also history, history, history. The picturesque corner home happens to be the birthplace of Adolph Hitler and the town is exploring ways to preventing it from continuing to draw neo-Nazis as a type of fascist heritage tour.

Continue reading “Austria Moves To Expropriate Hitler’s Childhood Home To Prevent Its Use As A Shrine” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Turkish Court Bans Charlie Hebdo Cover With Mohammad Cartoon After Erdogan Returns From Free Speech March

220px-Recep_Tayyip_Erdogan707192-une-charlie-png.jpgRemember Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s outrage over the appearance of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu at the Paris march for free speech? It seems a rather bizarre scene for a man who had led to one of the greatest rollbacks on free speech and press freedom in Turkey’s history as part of his insertion of Islamic fundamentalism into the once secular state. The irony only grew today after a Turkish court banned websites from show this cover of Charlie Hebdo’s magazine following the massacre of its editors and staff by Muslim extremists.
Continue reading “Turkish Court Bans Charlie Hebdo Cover With Mohammad Cartoon After Erdogan Returns From Free Speech March” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

France Follows Freedom of Speech Rally With Crackdown On Free Speech

300px-Eugène_Delacroix_-_La_liberté_guidant_le_peupleThis weekend I wrote a column for the Washington Post on the crackdown of free speech in France. The column suggested that, if the French really wanted to honor the dead at Charlie Hebdo, they would rescind the laws used to hound them and threaten them with criminal prosecution for years. (Indeed, at least one surviving journalist expressed contempt for those who now support free speech but remained silent in the face of past efforts to shut down the magazine). Now, however, news reports indicate that the French government is doubling down on criminalizing speech in the name of free speech after the massacre. France has reportedly made dozens of arrests of people who glorify terrorism and engage in hateful or antiSemitic speech.

Continue reading “France Follows Freedom of Speech Rally With Crackdown On Free Speech” →

Bizarre, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Can You Spot Something Missing In This Picture?

RALLY-articleLargeThe cover picture on the Israeli newspaper HaMevaser may seem familiar to those who watched the historic march for free speech in Paris this weekend, but something is missing. If you said, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, you have a keen eye and the qualifications to be an ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspaper editor. The newspaper removed not just Merkel’s picture but the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo and Simonetta Sommaruga, the president of Switzerland as well as a European Union official. The reason? God does not want men to see pictures of women, even world leaders, for reasons of modesty and religious purity.

Continue reading “Can You Spot Something Missing In This Picture?” →

Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

“I Am Charlie”: Charlie Hebdo Releases 3 Million Copies Of Magazine With Mohammed Cartoon On Cover

707192-une-charlie-png.jpgThe first issue by Charlie Hebdo will hit the streets today with a cover featuring a cartoon of Mohammed in defiance of Muslim extremists. The magazine will be offered “in 16 languages” for readers around the world and many are lining up to buy it to show solidarity with the magazine and free speech values after the massacre of 12 innocent people at the magazine.

Continue reading ““I Am Charlie”: Charlie Hebdo Releases 3 Million Copies Of Magazine With Mohammed Cartoon On Cover” →

Bizarre, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Parade Politics: Accusations Fly Over Who Was Present And Who Was Not In Paris For the March For Free Speech

President_Barack_Obama220px-Erdogan_croppedMuch of the talk after the massive march for free speech in Paris this weekend was the absence of President Barack Obama with other world leaders. It was an embarrassment for our country and slap in the face to the French. Instead, the Administration sent Jane Hartley, one of its bundlers turned diplomats who were given a major appointment for raising money for the President. Even though Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris that very day, he did not even stick around to march with other leaders. The Administration is now admitting that it blew it but there is a mystifying lack of basic competence and foresight at the White House at such moments. Rather than attend the rally, Obama stated in town for a photo op with the San Antonio Spurs. It was a shameful image to leave with French. This was not the only such controversy over who was present and who was not.

Continue reading “Parade Politics: Accusations Fly Over Who Was Present And Who Was Not In Paris For the March For Free Speech” →

Bizarre, International, Religion, Society

Frosty Fatwah: Saudi Arabian Cleric Declares Snowmen To Be Anti-Islamic

220px-Frosty_the_Snowman_GBVarious news sites are reporting a new pronouncement from a Muslim cleric that might be chilling for Muslims who have joined in a common winter practice in neighborhoods around the world. Sheikh Mohammed Saleh al-Munajjid told a follower on a website that snowmen are anti-Islamic and building them is a sin. It appears that sin has come to Saudi Arabia in the form of snow this year falling over upland areas of Tabuk province near Saudi Arabia’s border with Jordan.

Continue reading “Frosty Fatwah: Saudi Arabian Cleric Declares Snowmen To Be Anti-Islamic” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Cameron Government Moves To Impose Speech Code On English Universities

David_Cameron_official150px-royal_coat_of_arms_of_the_united_kingdom-svgA proposed British law creates a serious threat to academic freedom and free speech. The law seeks to force universities to take action to stop young people being exposed to extremist ideas and speakers. The law is consistent with a trend toward greater speech regulation in the West As I discussed in column yesterday in the Washington Post.

Continue reading “Cameron Government Moves To Impose Speech Code On English Universities” →