Cambridge University Press buckles

This is a story which needs to be aired widely.

Cambridge University Press has buckled in the face of a libel suit from Khalid bin Mafouz, a Saudi financier who has been linked to terrorist financing. These terrorist links were the subject of a new CUP book entitled Alms for Jihad: Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World. Unable to defend themselves because of the reversed burden of proof in the UK courts, CUP have now agreed to issue an apology and pulp all unsold copies of the book. Essentially the UK's libel laws are complicit in silencing freedom of speech worldwide.

More here. 

Comments

[Bill in Chicago]

The Saudis have been using the British libel laws for years to silence their critics. In case you aren't familiar with how ridiculous those laws are, you might try googling "Liberace libel Daily Mirror".

For a more serious look at why this is such a problem, check out:

www.asecondlookatthesaudis.com

[Bishop Hill]

Thanks for the heads up Bill

[Phil A]

Looks like Amazon are running scared too. They no longer seem to be willing to admit the book existed.