A new twist to the impending prosecution of Oriana Fallaci for incitement to religious hatred (see post below). The man who prompted the prosecution, Adel Smith, President of the Union of Italian Muslims, has himself been convicted of defaming the Catholic church:

'Adel Smith, President of the Union of Italian Muslims, was sentenced by the Padua court to 6 months in prison, converted to a fine (over 6,000 euro), for the crime of defaming religion. On January 4, 2003, Adel Smith, during a TV program broadcast live on the Paduan channel 'Serenissima Tv' made accusations against the Catholic church defining it as "criminal association" and against Pope John Paul II, defined as "a foreign man who heads the church" and "able double-crosser. [...] I declared undeniable modern historic facts: for this reason I do not regret my declarations. It seems to me that the sentence is political. I am very curious to know what those think who yesterday invoked the freedom of judgment and criticism today: is it so for me too?" Smith said he will appeal against the sentence and if necessary will resort to European courts "until he is acquitted." "I am confident and sure that at the end I will have justice." '

The answer to Smith's question is yes. His conviction is oppressive. He should have the freedom to speak -- the very freedom he seeks to remove from Oriana Fallaci. Freedom of speech for one means freedom of speech for all -- precisely the lesson he seems not to grasp, wanting freedom for himself but not for others.

This is precisely what happens when a country introduces laws banning debate about religion -- every religious believer becomes a potential criminal, faith group is set against faith group, group hatred does not diminish but grows, and freedom of expression goes down the tubes.