No longer will American authors be subject to foreign lawsuits that infringe on their First Amendment rights. The Libel Terrorism Protection Act, sponsored by Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), was passed yesterday in New York.
Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld faced this kind of lawsuit last year when Saudi Sheik Khalid bin Mahfouz sued her for accusing him and his two sons of of terror financing in her book, "Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed -- and How to Stop It". The Moving Picture Insitute even produced a short documentary film about the problem of libel terrorism based on Ehrenfeld’s case.
According to a press release put out by the American Center for Democracy:
“The Libel Terrorism Protection Act declares overseas defamation judgments unenforceable in New York unless the foreign defamation law provides, in substance and application, the same free speech protections guaranteed under our own constitution, and it gives New York residents and publishers the opportunity to have their day in court here in New York.”
New York Gov. David Paterson will sign the Act into law, effectively protecting journalists and writers from these unethical lawsuits put forth by foreigners with ill motive. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we are able to freely expose the motives and details of the terrorist community. They will stop at nothing to complete their goals and laws like this one will keep Americans safe to publish the truth.
Here are Lancman’s remarks on the Act: