MIAMI PASSES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING "HATE SPEECH" AGAINST MUSLIMS
BY ROBERT SPENCER
SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/10/miami-passes-resolution-condemning-hate-speech-against-muslims; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Violence is one thing, and violence against innocent people is always to be condemned, but that doesn’t need a Miami Commission resolution. “Hate speech” is another matter altogether. It’s a subjective classification, and that’s why this is so dangerous. By “hate speech” Islamic groups, such as Nezar Hamze’s Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), all too often mean any honest discussion of how Islamic jihadists use the texts and teachings of Islam to justify violence and hatred and supremacism. The Miami Commission doesn’t realize how it is being played: it is opening the door to criminalization of all criticism of Islam, as per Sharia blasphemy laws; and that would effectively shut down any opposition to the advancing jihad.
The Miami Commission also seems to have forgotten about the First Amendment, which protects speech that others may dislike or oppose. But the First Amendment will not defend itself against attacks, and under the guise of condemnations of “hate speech,” it is being effectively chipped away and reduced to empty words.
“Miami passes resolution condemning hate speech, violence against Muslims,” by Paradise Afshar, ABC Local 10 News, October 20, 2016:
MIAMI – Nezar Hamze stood in front of the Miami Commission last week, holding back tears before thanking officials for placing a resolution condemning hate speech and violence against Muslims on the agenda.“Wanted to thank you for your courage commissioner,” Hamze, operations director with the Council of American-Islamic Relations, and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy. “As a father I appreciate your courage. It’s hard raising children when politicians attack your faith and for you to have the courage, the political courage, which is often absent, is tremendous.”On Oct. 13, the commission passed a resolution condemning hate speech and violence directed at Muslims. The item was intended to show “solidarity with Muslims and those targeted for their ethnicity, race, or religion.”The item was sponsored by Vice Chair Ken Russell and passed unanimously by the commission.Russell said there are thousands of Muslim residents in Miami who have “needed a voice to speak for them.”“And it’s not about courage as a politician, it’s simply heartfelt empathy for someone’s freedom to express their religion and not be persecuted for it,” Russell said. “And to recognize it as a religion of love. Not to judge a group of people by the minority few within their population that commit bad crimes.”There are about 27 Islamic centers in Miami-Dade County and about 60 in the tri-county area, with close to 120,000 to 140,000 Muslims living in the tri-county area, according to Wilfredo Ruiz, communications director with CAIR Florida.Ruiz supported the item and spoke at the meeting, thanking the commission for the resolution during the meeting.He said that there has been an increase in Islamophobia that has been “raised by some politicians on all levels, local, state and national levels.” Ruiz said there has been a 500 percent increase in hate crimes against Muslims in Florida in the past year.“Resolutions like this really help foster a better environment, where the contributions of this many Muslims that have served and keep on serving our nation are protected, and we are embraced as another part of the American fabric,” Ruiz said.Shabbir Motorwala, of the Council of South Florida Muslim Organizations, also spoke in its favor.“It’s a very strong message the city will be sending to the people preaching about the hate, not against Muslims, but against anybody,” he said. “The Muslim community is really pleased with this resolution, and I hope this will send a strong message to hate-mongers around the country.”…
