AOL and Censorship.
Abdul Hadi Palazzi xtianity@infidels.org
Fri, 10 Jul 1998 13:39:01 +0200 (00900088741, 01BDAC44.0B470800.islam.inst@flashnet.it)
Dear Sirs,
I visited you site, obviously (as a Muslim scholar) do not agree with its
contents, and find it is contrary to my beliefs but, notwithstanding this -
since I believe in human rights - I fully support you right to express your
views, and openly condemn those supporters of intolerance and
totalitarianism that were campaigning against you and your freedom of
speech.
The United States of America are a free country, and that fact that AOL
accepted pressures and blackmails from the oil-lobby is blameworthy and
shameful. Obviously, when a group expresses its beliefs, it is natural that
other groups disagree and can also get offended. When a Christian says,
"Jesus is God", that is offensive for both Jews and Muslims, when an
atheist says, "Religions are all based on old superstitions", that is
obviously offensive for all believers. A democratic country is a place
where every one has the right to express his point of view, and those who
get offended have the right to reply, but not to exercise censorship. On
the contrary, a religious dictatorship is a country where only some
opinions have can freely be expressed.
Please, accept my support and my sincere regards,
Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi
==========================================================================
Director, The Cultural Institute of the Italian Islamic Community
Muslim Co-chairman, The Islam-Israel Fellowship (Root & Branch Association)
Visit our English Site.
http://www.ummah.org.uk/islamic_institute/index.html
Or our Italian Site: http://www.flashnet.it/users/fn034463
Mailto:islam.inst@flashnet.it
==========================================================================
-----Original Message-----
From: Adnan [SMTP:balboa19@idt.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 1998 8:55 PM
To: aam@infidels.org
Cc: errancy@infidels.org; xtianity@infidels.org; Bnai Avraham
Subject: AOL and Censorship.
It appears that now they pressuring mirror sites to remove controversial
suras.
Here is what I received from the owner of one mirror site.
______________
Thursday 9th July 1500 GMT
A week ago, I set up the UK mirror for the "SuraLikeIt" web site that was
kicked off AOL because of protests from a very small number of Islamic
activists. The new URL is:
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/suralikeit
I just received a phone call from a lady lawyer at the "Abuse Response
Team"
at UUNET-PIPEX (the service provider hosting the pages).
They said that they had received a `significant number` of protests from
people who find the site "offensive". She stressed that she was not making
a
judgement about the content but that under their Terms of Service, they
have
the right to pull any site about which they receive complaints. She said
they valued my custom and wanted me to remain with them.
I explained who I was, why we had done it and our plans for further media
protest should PIPEX also pull the plug. I said that for her sake she
should
talk to someone higher up in PIPEX before making a decision. She said that
her instructions had already come from the `highest level`....
I put to her the following scenario:
I put up an advert for hamburgers on their server, and a significant number
of animal rights activists complained that they found the site offensive.
Under their Terms Of Service they would have to shut it down.
She agreed.
She has gone back to her superiors and I expect them to ask for the site to
be shut quite soon.
Frankly, all those involved are astonished that this is the situation.
PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:
1) Look at the site (it is only 20 kilobytes) and decide for yourself if
this is offensive.
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/suralikeit
2) HAVING LOOKED AT THE SITE, email the Abuse Team at UUNET and tell them
that you think it would be ridiculous to close it because of a small
minority of activists. The email address is:
abuse-response@uk.uu.net
3) Copy the contents of this email to as many people as possible. Post it
on
the newsgroups, etc.
4) If you use a PIPEX dial account, email them and say that you would
consider moving elsewhere if they pull this site.
5) If you have good contacts with journalists in major papers or magazines,
please urge them to cover the story. The UK SuraLikeIt site has all the
references and material they could possibly need for a good article.
6) Send me an email of support!
This is a **vital** issue for freedom of speech - quite apart from the
Christian-Muslim dimension. Support for the site has come from a wide range
of people including Christians, Atheists, Agnostics and Muslims - they all
see the far reaching implications for freedom-of-speech should such tactics
succeed.
"Kindred Spirit"
Responsible for the UK "SuraLikeIt" web site
kindredspirit@dial.pipex.com
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