Douglas Murray Withdraws from IslamExpo
Writing on Conservative Home, he explains why:
Dear -
Further to my previous emails I have learned that one of the key figures in Islam Expo is in the process of suing the highly admirable blog Harry’s Place.
I am fully aware of the bias involved - and many of the unpleasant figures behind - Islam Expo. I have followed the event on both previous years and have always been fully aware of the highly prejudicial and biased nature of the forum.
However, I believe passionately in freedom of speech. This means that I have often taken to platforms and had to talk opposite people whose views I find morally distasteful and worse. I knew that this was going to be the case at Islam Expo. Among the pannelists in the uneven panel you intended to put me on were Seamus Milne, and Anas Altikriti. Milne has previously come close to libelling me in print. He - like Altikriti - has views which I abhor. But I am willing to speak with such people, and make my case in almost any venue which cares to have me.
However, the event of Mohammed Sawalha’s legal action against Harry’s Place makes it impossible for me to be on your platform. A concerted attempt to prevent writers from highlighting the agendas or affiliations behind your event ridicules the very idea of an open debate.
I will not come on a platform hosted by people carrying out legal action against a deeply admirable and informed proponent of free speech. I hope your debate benefits from its newly re-found uniformity.
Sincerely,
Douglas Murray
Comments
| 10 July 2008, 10:14 pm |
The original IslamExpo was staged on the 1st anniversary of the July 7th bombings, in 2006.
The left-wing media were falling over themselves to tell us how intolerant we were, despite so many pointing out the associations such as the MAB
http://islamexpo.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=120
| 10 July 2008, 10:53 pm |
My bed is going to be crowded tonight.
| 10 July 2008, 10:53 pm |
We’ve just published a piece in your defense by Robin Simcoxx.
http://www.neoconstant.com/312/why-harrys-place-deserves-our-support/
Hats off to you, and good luck. I’ve had the great fortune of corresponding with Douglas Murray. He’s a brilliant man, and good for him for not attending!
| 10 July 2008, 11:14 pm |
Alec,
Have you been following Glasgow East?
| 10 July 2008, 11:17 pm |
Well done Douglas Murray.
| 10 July 2008, 11:26 pm |
Tim, last I saw a black female Tory trade-unionist was running.
| 10 July 2008, 11:30 pm |
My bed is going to be crowded tonight.
Alec Macpherson 10 July 2008, 10:53 pm
Is this some kind of boast?
| 10 July 2008, 11:38 pm |
Also, that Gail Sheridan’s back in her job.
| 10 July 2008, 11:53 pm |
Well done, Douglas Murray. You were great confronting Ken Livingstone when he attempted to pander to militant Islamists with his conference on the Clash of Civilisations and no doubt you would have wiped the floor with them at IslamExpo. But you’ve done the better thing. Government ministers, please copy.
| 10 July 2008, 11:57 pm |
“Tim, last I saw a black female Tory trade-unionist was running.”
I didn’t ask whether you were stereotyping athletes.
Have you been following the confusion in the SSP Sol and Galloways support for Labour?
| 11 July 2008, 12:49 am |
Er, great to see that HP is “highly admired” by the Conservative Party.
| 11 July 2008, 1:17 am |
I have literally rubbed my hands with glee at this latest news! (Yes, I am sad like that.)
Alec, hopefully your bed will get more crowded yet. I feel both faintly jealous and vaguely repulsed at the same time. But life is all about new experiences, no?
I say HP needs to set up Tories For Harry’s Place. It could do great business. (I would say Lib Dems and Greens for HP too, but I don’t really see them being anything other than shit, as per usual, regarding this issue.)
| 11 July 2008, 1:17 am |
Oh, and I forgot to say:
Benji, fuck off.
| 11 July 2008, 3:44 am |
Whoops, Tim! Shall I report to the prefects’ room for disciplining? Nah, I’ll just tell Benji to fuck off.
| 11 July 2008, 4:56 am |
Ben/Alec
TheIrie would suggest that if I didn’t confront you over your hateful comments to Benji then I would be a party to intolerance and incitement to hatred.
Please arrange for Benji to post his reply in the Guardian to avoid potential litigation.
| 11 July 2008, 7:58 am |
Well done Douglas Murray.
Best,
Inna
| 11 July 2008, 10:46 am |
Douglas Murray’s decision and explanation are highly commendable. Hats off.
| 13 July 2008, 10:01 am |
Douglas Murray withdrew from reality a long time ago
| 14 July 2008, 5:00 pm |
Well I’m so glad you weren’t there Douglas Murray, you’re most certainly unwelcome!!!!
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