LSE Literary Weekend/English PEN Panel Discussion Religious Defamation
Date: Sunday 1 March 2009, 2-3.30pm
Speakers: Professor Conor Gearty, Ivan Hare, Howard Jacobson, Kenan Malik
Chair: Lisa Appignanesi
A year after the repeal of blasphemy from English law, religious defamation laws are tightening their grip on the world, with the apparent support of the United Nations. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? On Sunday 1 March, English PEN will host a discussion of the nature of blasphemy in the twenty-first century.
Professor Conor Gearty is Director of LSE's Centre for the Study of Human Rights. Ivan Hare is a barrister of Blackstone Chambers, editor of Extreme Speech and Democracy. Howard Jacobson is a critically acclaimed author, and regular columnist for The Independent. Kenan Malik is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster, his latest book From Fatwa to Jihad: The Rushdie Affair and its Legacy will be published in April. Lisa Appignanesi is President of English PEN and headed its Free Expression is No Offence Campaign.
This event is free and open to all, but a ticket is required. Tickets are now available to request via the LSE website. For event and ticket information please visit the LSE website, where tickets are now available.
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On Saturday 28 February English PEN is taking part in the Conference on Modern Liberty at the Institute of Education on Bedford Way and we're in need of 2-3 volunteers to come along for the whole day and help man our stall. You'll also get the chance to attend some of the seminars on offer. Ideally, we need people who don't mind doing a bit of reading off our website first as you will have to speak to the public/interested parties about what PEN does.
The full programme is available here: http://www.modernliberty.net/programme if anyone is interested then do let me know!
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