Category Archives: freedom of speech

The Dark Ages

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Lambert

The home of Martin Rynja, the director of Gibson Square, which plans to publish The Jewel of the Medina, was attacked by Islamist arsonists yesterday. You can read about it here. Announcing the publication of The Jewel of the Medina … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, islam, terrorism | Leave a comment

Gagging order

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Lambert

If you’d like to know more about the absurd case of satirist Sabina Guzzanti being prosecuted for “contempt of the pope” and, more generally, the state of freedom of speech in an increasingly myopic Italy, there’s a very useful article … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, italy, ratzinger, sabina guzzanti | Leave a comment

Mug shot

Posted on February 2, 2008 by Charles Lambert

If you’ve spent more than a few days in Rome you’ll probably have left the traffic of Largo Argentina behind you and paused by the turtle fountain in Piazza Mattei and thought, for a moment, how wonderful it must be … Continue reading →

Posted in art, freedom of speech, photography, politics | 5 Comments

Dear Editor

Posted on January 17, 2008 by Charles Lambert

I thought I’d write to La Repubblica to point out that the rest of the world (pace the horrified wailing of the Italian media) is actually not that interested in Ratzinger’s failure to show at la Sapienza. On the assumption … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, pope, ratzinger | 4 Comments

Red bull? Papal bull? Plain bull…

Posted on December 15, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Thanks to the efforts of one humourless Sicilian priest (Father Marco Damanti, if you care), who’s played the blasphemy card and scared Red Bull into compliance, you’ll no longer be able to see this harmless advertisement on Italian television. Never … Continue reading →

Posted in censorship, church, freedom of speech, television | 1 Comment

Free speech

Posted on November 27, 2007 by Charles Lambert

In today’s Guardian, Brian Klug makes an interesting point about the brouhaha surrounding the Oxford Union’s decision to invite two fascists – who shall here remain nameless – to participate in a debate on free speech. He points out that … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, human rights | 1 Comment

Italy rules OK. OK?

Posted on October 26, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Two reminders yesterday that the autonomy of the Republic of Italy isn’t a given. One. Rome’s court of assizes decided that there was no case to be made against the murderer of Nicola Calipari, the Italian secret service agent who … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, italy, USA, vatican, war | Leave a comment

Posted on October 16, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Just in case you haven’t already come across it, I’ve linked to the site of MediaWatchWatch. This is what it’s all about: MediaWatchWatch was set up in January 2005 in reaction to the religious campaign against the BBC’s broadcasting of … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, religion | Leave a comment

Rant and let rant?

Posted on October 12, 2007 by Charles Lambert

I was recently forwarded this. We all have to sign a petition to force Google to remove from their websites lists the website: http://www.jewwatch.com This site is devoted to anti-Semitism, hate of Jews and so, with false articles and researches…..It … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom of speech, human rights | 4 Comments

Freedom is as freedom does

Posted on October 10, 2007 by Charles Lambert

An interesting article in today’s Slate about bloggers’ rights and the recourse made to British libel laws by those who feel that a post has caused them scorn, derision, social alienation, or loss of face with “right-thinking” individuals. Johann Hari, … Continue reading →

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