Reader Alan has drawn by attention to a meeting organised by Policy Exchange to be held today:

Policy Exchange takes great pleasure in inviting you to a lunchtime seminar entitled “Libel Tourism - Does UK Law Need Reform?”. This event will begin at 12.45 on Tuesday 15 July 2008 in Policy Exchange’s headquarters at 10 Storey's Gate London SW1P 3AY. 

The subject of libel tourism has begun to attract considerable attention abroad: the New York State Legislature voted unanimously to pass the Libel Terrorism Protection Act in April 2008. 

The impetus for this move came directly from the English court judgement in favour of Khalid Salim bin Mahfouz, who sued Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld for defamatory statements in her book Funding Evil, How Terrorism is Financed – and How to Stop it, about his alleged involvement in the funding of terrorism, allegations which Mr. Bin Mahfouz vehemently denied. Although Dr. Ehrenfeld lived and worked in the United States, the English court awarded damages and costs to the claimant and granted an injunction prohibiting the book from being published in England. 

This growing phenomenon of “libel tourism”, where non-English citizens travel to England in order to press libel charges on US citizens whose work is protected under US law – shows the willingness of courts in this country to extend libel laws well beyond the boundaries of England. This has been seen by many as a great threat to the right of free speech in the West.

Policy Exchange has therefore gathered a leading group of experts on this subject to discuss “libel tourism” .

Speakers include Anthony Julius of Mischon de Reya, the firm of solicitors acting for Harry's Place.

Unfortunately I cannot attend, but Helen from EU Referendum, a friend of Rachel Ehrenfeld, is going and will report back.