Ezra is planning to sue Soharwardy for costs and two years of harassment. Good for him. And there's something more - how much did Soharwardy's abuse of process cost us, the Canadian taxpayer?

Remember, we, each and everyone of us, is paying the salaries, pensions, benefits, offices and etc, of those very comfortably off Human Rights employees. They wouldn't have all that comfort if people like Soharwardy and Richard Warman weren't busy filing their malicious nuisance cases.

So, yes, Ezra should sue Soharwardy. And the HRC.

We are very lucky that we have Ezra to fight this battle. The previous defendant victims of the HRC didn't have the money or the legal skills to fight back.

And, I wonder how the HRC are going to slither out of the Elmasry Maclean's-Steyn case?

I dare not visit that slime Kinsellas blog to find out his opinion.

maybe he can post that here for us /

Please Kate, dont block or edit him as he does to us.

Warren , what be your opinion of a cut and run?
Warren , what would you say of the liberal caucus cut and run yesterday?

And, in other news, it seems the Conservative Party of Canada has kicked the whole lot of you to the curb on the HRC issue:

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=304108

Ouch. That's gotta hurt. Poor guy, that Levant. And you guys...your fearless leader doesn't seem to want to touch your issue of the month with a ten foot pole. Cut loose and everything. Hey, at least it was Kathy Shaidle delivering the news...

...bit of a digression, but I was listening to the Quran on my way to work this morning (long story) and in the "Cow" Surrah it clearly instructs: "make not mischief on the earth."
I had to laugh out loud as I added that to the list of reasons I've identified you and Islam don't see eye to eye... :)

wait till Harper gets a majority.

JC almost made POT a HR issue. Ha!

Johnny - This isn't a battle, it's a peaceful political war, we are bound to lose some of the battles but our cause will prevail.

Speaking of people not screwing others - how about the new tactic the Liberals are using to prevent an election?

They are saying that Harper passed a Motion that governments operate within fixed four year terms, and therefore, the next election isn't until 2009. Fine, it's a good idea, to prevent the type of machinations of a Chretien-style of government which would take advantage of opposition weakness to get majorities. That is, the agenda was Political Power, not good government.

But, there's a flip side of the coin. The Opposition can't bask in the security of the fixed four year term, and consider that their actions are unaccountable...and therefore proceed to hinder, prevent and block good government.

It isn't simply the Government that is accountable to the electorate; the Opposition parties are part of that government and they are accountable as well. If they, as they are doing now, constantly prevent the passage of bills, introduce malicious bills (Kyoto), walk out of parliament, and so on - they are denying the electorate their right to government.

Remember, we, the electorate, are in charge of the government. If these MPs are playing games and refusing to provide us with government; if they are instead playing partisan politics, then, they must be held accountable - and kicked out.

The Liberals can't prevent the government from working for four years and not be held accountable.

Hey ET - no surprise the leftards always operate in a slimy fashion. Remember when Trudeau visited China during the cold war in secret I might add.

And, in other news,"

Actually, Ringo, that was yesterday's news. If you spent as much time reading as you do yapping, you may have noticed there's a post devoted to it further down the page.

I think it is good that the Danes are republishing the central item(s) of interest in the news story from a few years ago. I agree with some that a publisher may, from time to time, exercise self control and not print certain items based on his own criteria. However, I have seen only the initial publication of the cartoons as a freedom of speech or a freedom of expression issue. After the initial violence, the issue moved to a "freedom of the press to publish the truth" issue. For this reason, the Europeans are making the correct decision.

Those who do not publish will probably observe dhimminishing sales.

Metal-Miltia, I like your approach.

It's great the Ezra going to sue that mischievous nasty little man, establising that you can sue someone in a REAL court when they sic a Kangaroo court on you is nice. It would be nicer to show that if LOST to the Kangaroo court, but hey.

It's pity in another way though, because the other prong here is the political counter-attack on the HRC's and the dropping of the case really tends to defuse the momentum of disgust with them that was building.

What do you want to bet the Steyn HRC case will be stillborn? Waaay too high exposure for the HRC.

Actually I would not be surprised in the least to find out that HRC employees begged them to drop this case once they realized the hot potatos they had. Two cases that could destroy their sinecures.

I wonder if someone could refile the case as a 3rd party, just for mischief sake, FORCE the HRC to go through the motions

If Ezra manages to take a biiig bite out of Sowhardy in civil court, Harper won't have to do anything at all.

Yah no guys I have no use for a piece of crap like Soharwardy but he felt offended and took it to the HRC.

It is the boards job to through this crap out.

We may not like what he stands for and I would never pick him up in a snowstorm but he does (in a democracy)have the right to express his feelings.
Just as Ezra has the right to nail his ass to the wall.
Just cause somebody has an opinion we dont like doesnt mean he cant express the freedoms our society enjoys. After all we are supposed to be the good guys.
Our outrage should be focused on the HRC.

We should all republish that cartoon.

Speaking of those Danish cartoons, I bring the following to your attention:

http://revival.muslimpad.com/2008/02/13/danish-cartoonists-are-proven-to-be-defiant-against-allah-his-messenger/

You will see in a comment on that post how a moderate Muslim, who calls out the racism, is ignored.

My research leads me to believe that the blog at the link is operated by none other than the fabled Inshallahshaheed. Nice blogroll too.

Speaking of those Danish cartoons, I bring the following to your attention:

http://revival.muslimpad.com/2008/02/13/danish-cartoonists-are-proven-to-be-defiant-against-allah-his-messenger/

My research leads me to believe that the blog at the link is operated by none other than the fabled Inshallahshaheed. Nice blogroll too.

Sorry for the double post. While preparing this comment, I saw a disclaimer appear on the site that the use of the term "white trash" was not racist.

Who knew?

good on the Danes if only courage was contagious

CBC's coverage of the Motoons story just started a few minute ago.
The dhimis at the Ceeb pixelated the drawings while showing the papers on camera!

What a bunch of knobs!!

In fact, the National Post today ran the turban-bomb cartoon on the Page 2 turn from the front-page story about the Danish arrests.

Bureaucrats act in self protective ways. They also hate controversy. The publicity alone with Ezra and Mcleans is enough to make them cautious of Sec 13 meddling. Any decision they could render in these cases would reflect on the commission far more than the complainant or plaintiff, and trigger a judicial review of Sec 13.

This probably explains the low key response of the government at this point. Challenge the HRC make a decision and the public pressure to deal with HRCs might result in more than Sec 13 changes.

I fully understand Ezra's sentiments.
However, notwithstanding my lack of legal training, I just can't see how he could win a civil suit against the Imam who, after all, merely exploited the speech-suppressing rules in place.

In fact, I'll make a prediction right now: He won't win a civil suit. And that will be a disappointing denouement to the case.

MND, it doesn't actually matter if Levant wins in civil court. What matters is if he makes it to court and the legal fees of defending himself bankrupt Soharwardy.

Sudden drop in HRC complaints if the victim gets to shoot back. They only reason these wankers do it is because its no-cost and risk free.

I have to agree with Me No Dhimmi - given the Imam's grovelling apology, which by the way reads pretty darn good in the Calgary Herald, I hate to say, it is hard for me to see how a suit would be successful.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=74ad99e5-4e56-43bd-be9f-1438806b4f3e&p=1

I wonder who wrote this for him. Far more organized and literate than the "chicken scratchings" on the original complaint. I could poke more than a few holes in it, but it reads well.

The fact is that Ezra may be aware that the suit may be unsuccessful, but just the fact that he would force sowarharsky to hire a lawyer and fight the charges would be retribution.

Where can I buy rolls of toilet paper with the prophet cartoon images on them? Just like the rolls of toilet paper they used to sell with Trudeau's picture.

Hey, RFB, I remember those rolls. They were a lot of fun!

According to Levants own account, he indicated that SS has basically admitted to "abuse of process".

I hope he takes it as far as it will go!!

Horny Toad

I continued to watch CBC tv news this evening for further updates ... Soharwardy was being interviewed and had the gall to complain thus...
- It was never my intention that things turn out this way !
- This just got out of control!
- He (Levant) was monopolizing the dialogue!
- He was making himself a martyr !
- This was going in a direction I did not want !

More or less verbatim from the mouth of Sayed Soharwardy on CBC news today!

You may recall that Mullahs organized the *impromptu* anti-cartoon street demonstrations over a three month period.

With Muqtada al Sadr in a more civic mode lately, it will be interesting to see what level of demonstrations occur this time, if any do at all. = TG

What matters is if he makes it to court and
the legal fees of defending himself bankrupt Soharwardy.@8:53pm

What you're forgetting is that the legal fees will undoubtedly be covered by
some saudi "prince" or other oil-rich muzzie. How do you think all these
opulent mosques have been springing up on every seventh street corner in
Canadian cities? I can guarantee it's not from muslim immigrant donations.

Alienated, is that like the $5,000 personal max political donation?

so somebody builds a huge mosque. no different than the uber-rich palaces.

Threatened with murder for publishing a cartoon...

Threatened with murder for drawing a cartoon...

Digitizing the pictures so no one could see what it was...

WORTHLESS

The Phantom: Yeah, I thought of that too -- running up some fees for Soharwardy. But Alientated at 11:08pm makes a good point and demonstrates a solid understanding of Islam's "settlement process" behind all this, to wit: his pockets won't be hit!

I think Ezra's accomplishment as it stands is stupdendous -- historical even. And if I understand bureaucracy at all, I'm guessing section 13 is toast even if not deleted. And I don't think it's gonna be deleted, frankly; it's too hot a potato and the optics are tricky [see CBC, White Power pleased with Keith Martin, etc].

Ezra mounted an extremely aggressive DEFENSE which was received sympathetically by most. I'm doubtful if aggressive OFFENSE will be helpful now -- but maybe later if there's more Muslim aggression.

MND,

Don't over-think the game. Strike when the iron is hot.

Sowharwardy has to be hammered hard for this. Ezra has to make an example of him for any other radical activists who might get the same idea. They have to know and know well we have freedoms here, basic freedoms and they cannot take them away through threats and inducing fear. We don't live that way in Canada, we are not an Islamic Theocracy. If that is what Sowharwardy and his ilk want, they know where to go. They can get their arses out of this democracy and fast.

I'm not a lawyer (thank god) so correct me if I'm wrong but if Ezra sues the Imam and Ezra looses, Ezra just might be liable for the expenses of the Imam defending himself. In other words Ezra may have to pay the Imam's lawyer fees and court costs. Sounds like a zero sum game to me. If this is the case Ezra should just let it go.

As a further thought on this, given what has happened in Denmark with the arrest of some extremists plotting to murder the artist of the "offensive" cartoons, Ezra would be wise to regularly check under the hood of his car.

In my opinion Ezra has the hammer and he should use it. This is not about who pays the imams legal costs. I suggest the objective here is to send a message to all HRC tribunals and complaintants that frivolous cases such as this can be extremely costly to everyone not just the person accused of being insensitive.

Sooo - prospector - I take it then that should Ezra go ahead and sue the Imam and loose, you would bring out your checkbook to help Ezra pay the Imam's court and lawyer fees.

You want to stand on a principle and I understand that but there is another principle here, isn't there? It is that you should back up your convictions with more than just words. In this case you should back your convictions with money. It is easy to have principles until they actually start costing you some money.