A question to Dr. Pipes

Submitted by Debanjan Banerjee (India), Feb 1, 2010 at 05:29

Dr. Pipes ,

I believe that you were the one who supported Geert Wilders on free speech. Then why do you take a different step towards Tariq Ramadan.

Dr. Pipes if you really believe in your ideas about freedom of specch and freedom of opinion then why do you not invite Tariq Ramadan on an honest debate on Middle East forum ?

If you believe in the superiority of your ideas over Tariq Ramadan why you do not prove it in an honest debate in United States ?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Daniel Pipes replies:

Free speech means being able to speak publicly without fear of punishment by one's government. It does mean a guarantee for enemies to enter one's country.

I have no wish to dignify my country's enemies by debating them. See "Television in Time of War" for my reasons spelled out.