Legal Project

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The Legal Project is an off-shoot from Daniel Pipes' organisation Middle East Forum.

History

According to right-wing news site Breitbart, it was reportedly established to 'protect the right in the West to freely discuss Islam, radical Islam, terrorism, and terrorist funding'.[1]

The Legal Project's website claims 'the Islamist movement has two wings, one violent and one lawful' and quotes Steve Emerson as saying: 'Legal action has become a mainstay of radical Islamist organizations seeking to intimidate and silence their critics.'[2]

Activities

According to its own website, The Legal Project works in four ways to 'counter the Islamist threat' as it sees it:

1) Fundraising for an Escrow account to supplement the court costs and litigation fees for victims of Islamist lawfare - all funds raised go directly to lawfare victims,
2) Arranging for pro bono and reduced rate counsel for victims of Islamist lawfare,
3) Maintaining an international network of attorneys dedicated to working pro bono in the defense of free speech and,
4) Raising awareness about the issue. Efforts include briefings by legal experts on how to avoid libelous statements, and consultations with libel lawyers before publishing on certain topics.[2]

Support for Geert Wilders and others

The Legal Project supported Dutch Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders to appeal hate speech charges and French anti-Muslim activist Christine Tasin with legal costs for a similar appeal.>ref name="Lane"/>

Affiliations

Notes

  1. Oliver Lane, COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF WOMAN PROSECUTED FOR INSULTING ISLAM, Breitbart News, 22 December 2014, accessed 3 February 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 About, Legal Project, accessed 4 February 2015