NY Legislature Passes First-Ever 'Libel Terrorism Protection Act' to Protect Freedom of Speech

The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership plays important role in raising awareness of "libel tourism" threats leading to legislative action

NEW YORK, April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York's legislature yesterday unanimously passed the Libel Terrorism Protection Act intended to protect American journalists from lawsuits in foreign jurisdictions that do not provide the same free speech protections as the First Amendment.

"We are proud to have raised awareness of this issue among NY state legislators," said Dr. Charles Jacobs, president and founder of the David Project Center for Jewish Leadership. "In passing the bill, legislators have ensured that foreign verdicts will no longer stifle free discourse in New York, and have blazed a trail for other states to follow."

The bill was proposed in response to a new threat on freedom of speech represented in a growing number of "libel tourism" cases. Libel tourism refers to the practice of intimidating writers and publishers by filing libel suits against them in countries with plaintiff-friendly libel laws such as the United Kingdom.

At the end of 2007, Elizabeth Samson, a David Project employee, Legacy Heritage Fellow, and international lawyer, published an op-ed about Rachel Ehrenfeld, the American author of "Funding Evil; How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It" who was sued for libel in the UK by a Saudi businessman.

New York State Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens) read the article and became concerned about the threat that libel tourism presents to New Yorkers' freedom of speech.

Assemblyman Lancman and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) co-sponsored the Libel Terrorism Protection Act. It specifies that foreign defamation judgments cannot be enforced in the State of New York unless the foreign country provides the same level of free speech protections as afforded by the U.S. Constitution. It also guarantees that New York writers, journalists and publishers have their cases heard in New York courts to halt the enforcement of the foreign judgment.

Now passed unanimously by the New York State Legislature, the bill awaits Governor David Paterson's signature.

About the David Project

The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership is a non-profit educational organization that promotes an honest, fair and fact-based understanding of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

For more information please visit http://www.davidproject.org.