Spin Cycle

Gov. David A. Paterson struck a blow for free speech last week, signing into law a bill protecting writers from foreign libel judgments.

The measure, sponsored by State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), at left, and Assemb. Rory Lancman (D-Queens), bars state courts from enforcing the libel ruling of a foreign court unless that country has the same speech protections as the United States or better. The bill also expands a writer’s ability to have a court declare the foreign libel judgment invalid in New York.

The legislation stems from the case of author Rachel Ehrenfeld of Manhattan, who lost a libel suit brought in a British court by Saudi banker Khalid bin Mahfouz. In her book, “Funding Evil,” she alleged that he financed terrorist Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.

Paterson said, “New Yorkers must be able to speak out on issues of public concern without living in fear that they will be sued outside the United States under legal standards inconsistent with our First Amendment.”

Skelos agreed, adding, “the truth is a critically-important component of the war on terror.”

James T. Madore