"Limitations to Speech May Be Based On the Harm Principle Or the Offence Principle"

Well, yes, they may indeed be based on those principles--especially in places where sharia law prevails. But using such an argument to silence Pamela Geller isn't likely to fly, even here in Justin's Trudeaupia.

That said, Faisal Kutty gives it that old school try, smearing Geller as "the world's top Islamophobe." Among her "crimes": she says "Hitler was inspired by Islam" (what an absurd idea!) and that Islamic prayers include curses aimed at Christians and Jews (what egregious tommyrot!).

No wonder Kutty wants to keep her out of the country. 

Update: Invaluable anti-jihad/anti-sharia blogger Pointe de Bascule unpacks law prof Kutty's "modern" interpretation of Islamic law here.

Update: My letter to the Toronto Star:

I believe it was the great French writer Voltaire who first said, "Limitations to speech may be based on the harm principle or the offence principle."

Oh, wait. It was law professor and vocal proponent of Islamic law Faisal Kutty who originated that deathless line.

The quotation usually attributed to Voltaire is, "I wholly disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Which pretty much explains why there is plenty of freedom in the Western world and not much to speak of in places where the "harm" or the "offence" principles hold sway.