U.S House Takes First Step to Protect Free Speech  
Against “Libel Tourists”

Washington, DC –  The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 6146, crucial  legislation that will protect American citizens from foreign libel judgments  that undermine their fundamental First Amendment free speech  rights.  

 



Dr.  Ehrenfeld knows first-hand the effects of this destructive practice of  forum shopping.  She was sued in Britain, where the libel laws are  plaintiff friendly, by Saudi billionaire Khalid Salim bin Mahfouz for  alleging in her book Funding Evil: How Terrorism Is Financed and How  to Stop It, that he funded al-Qaeda.

 


Rep. Peter King, who initiated the federal legislation agrees  with Dr. Ehrenfeld, stating that although he support H.R. 6146,  “this bill does not go far enough nor  does it resolve the problem of “libel tourism.” Even  Rep. Cohen, the author of H.R. 6146, acknowledged his bill is not enough to  “ address libel tourism,” and stated on the floor of the House that  he is “committed to working with Mr.  King to push for a public hearing… which advances additional measures to  address libel tourism.”
 
Indeed, the  ACLU, the American Library  Association, the Association of American Publishers, the PEN American  Center, the Families of the 9/11 victims, and many others support the Free  Speech Protection Act, 2008, sponsored by Senators Arlen Specter, Joseph  Lieberman and Chuck Schumer, and Rep. Peter King.   

 


Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld’s contact:  [email protected]

 

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