Maine fines group for criticizing Islam
Let me preface this story by saying I am not fond of any person or group claiming to be Christian engaging in fund raising based on political issues. Although I do most passionately defend their rights as citizens to do so under the Constitution.
A Christian organization in Maine has filed a lawsuit to challenge a bureaucratic decision to impose a $4,000 fine for its “criticism” of Islam, expressed in a mailing to supporters.
The issue developed following a Christian Action Network fundraising letter several months ago. The letter exposed “how some public schools were promoting Islalm by providing instruction on the Five Pillars of Islam and the Quran,” according to the complaint against the state.
“The letter pointed out that some schools have provided a ‘prayer room’ for Muslims and one textbook that told seventh grade students they ‘will become Muslim.’ The letter listed Gov. John Baldacci as a person who is over the public schools and someone to whom the recipients of the letter should voice their opinion,” the complaint said.
State officials then alleged the letter contained “an inflammatory anti-Muslim message” and used the governor’s name without his permission and canceled the group’s registration, imposed a $4,000 fine and said it no longer could send out letters.
In my opinion all political speech is inflammatory in nature, no matter what is said it will offend someone and can be classified as hate speech. Being offensive or inflammatory cannot be a reason to restrict free speech or else there can be no free political speech at all. The 1st Amendment does not protect religions from criticism in the public square, nor can such criticism be criminalized by calling it hate speech.
Telling people to send their objections of state policies to political officials by name, people that are involved in those issues seems to me to be a recommendation for direct, civil political action, and it cannot be used as a reason to restrict free speech.
Sorry Maine, this is a violation of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and to fine free speech is clearly anti-American.
