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What about burning just the pages of the Koran that condone slavery. Is that still hate speech?


Intent matters.

In the case of the movie, the audience was American moviegoers, with the producers solely intending to amuse the audience.

In the case of the Koran burning, the audience was Muslims worldwide, with full knowledge that the act was under intense media scrutiny, and with forewarning that it would likely result in riots and violence. He chose to act in a way that he knew would result in riots and violence. It wasn't "hate speech." It was an act that was engaged in consciously with knowledge that it would likely provoke a violent response engaged in out of pure malice.


What about burning just those pages of the Bible that condone slavery?


I'm not sure I understand your point. I accept that both the Bible and Koran contain sections that condone slavery, but how does that affect the question of whether burning the Koran is 'hate speech'?




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