Maggie's Farm

Infamous libel tourist, Saudi billionaire Khalid bin Mahfouz died last Saturday.  His charity funded al-Qaeda and Hamas.  He was involved with the BCCI bank, also known as the “bank for crooks and criminals.”  His money and connections were welcome throughout the Middle East, though often to the rue of rich sheikhs he fleeced or for whom he lost fortunes, and extended to the US where he was cozy with some oil interests.

Yet, what he may most be remembered for is stimulating a vigorous defense of freedom of speech in the US.  Plucky Rachel Ehrenfeld fought back, with little resources except some Americans who care deeply for our freedoms.  As the result, several states have passed legislation to defend writers from spurious British libel lawsuits in order to shut them up from revealing such machinations as Mahfouz’.  The US Congress is on its way to, also, passing such legislation.  More info here.

So, Mr. Mahfouz, enjoy your reward.