the Dutch Government
http://www.petitiononline.com/wilders/petition.html
Friends,
Geert Wilders, a friend of freedom, a friend of Israel, and a courageously
outspoken critic of radical Islam, is being indicted by a Dutch court on
criminal charges for "insulting" Islam. The prosecution of Geert Wilders
is the prosecution of free speech, and of anyone who dares to call radical
Islam by its true name. WE MUST SUPPORT GEERT! Below, a way to become
involved in the most important battle of our age.
Naomi
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 5:45 AM
The International Free Press Society
www.internationalfreepresssociety.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Defend Geert Wilders and Freedom of Speech
For more information, contact:
Lars Hedegaard
President, IFPS
lhedegaard@freepressmonitor.com
Diana West
Vice President
dwest@freepressmonitor.com
(301) 466-0248
January 22, 2009 - Washington, DC and Copenhagen, Denmark: A Dutch court
yesterday ordered the criminal prosecution of Geert Wilders, Dutch
parliamentarian and leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), for his statements -
written, spoken and filmed -regarding Islam. The Amsterdam Court of Appeals
has deemed such statements "insulting," declaring that they "substantially
harm the religious esteem" of Muslims.
Clearly, the effect of this Dutch court order is to set new limits to public
debate in Dutch society, in this case about the highly controversial but
nonetheless crucially important subject of Islam. This makes the
prosecution of Geert Wilders an unacceptable breach of the sanctity of
freedom of speech in Western society.
Having ordered a criminal prosecution for the opinions of a duly elected
leader of a legitimate political party, Dutch authorities have dealt a
devastating blow to political expression. While Dutch prosecutors prepare
their indictment and Geert Wilders' future hangs in limbo, who in The
Netherlands will dare discuss political and cultural matters related to
Islam - Islamic law, Islamic integration, Islamic crime, Islamic policy -
openly, freely and fearlessly? The chilling effect is instantaneous. If,
indeed, Wilders is ultimately convicted, free speech will cease to exist in
the heart of Europe.
The International Free Press Society believes this court-ordered prosecution
against Geert Wilders, a central figure in the fight against the
Islamization of the West, amounts to a dangerous concession to the
strictures of Islamic law, which prohibits all criticism of Islam, over
Western traditions of, and rights to robust and unfettered debate. As such,
it is tantamount to a surrender to totalitarian influences that undermine
all Western freedoms. And as such, it must be resisted.
It is important to recall recent history. Two Dutchmen, Pim Fortuyn and Theo
van Gogh, have been murdered for their outspoken opposition to Islamization
in The Netherlands. Another Dutch politician, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, has been
infamously forced into exile. Wilders alone now carries this debate over
Islam in Dutch society forward - forcefully but logically, outspokenly but
reasonably, and always peacefully. In order to do so, this member of Dutch
parliament lives in a virtual prison, consigned to 24-hour guard by Islamic
death threats against his life. Now, Dutch authorities have ordered him to
be prosecuted for the Orwellian crime of committing "insulting" words.
As Wilders puts it, "If I have to stand trial, I will not stand trial alone,
but also with the hundreds of thousands of Dutch people who reject the
Islamization of The Netherlands." He will also stand trial with those in The
Netherlands and beyond who reject government prosecutions of free speech. In
recognition of this this dire situation, the IFPS immediately calls on every
supporter of free speech to come to the aid of Geert Wilders.To assist in
this effort, the IFPS has launched an international campaign in defense of
Geert Wilders and his freedom of speech.
To support these efforts, we urge you to contribute to the Geert Wilders
Defense Fund. Donation information can be found at the IFPS website at
http://www.internationalfreepresssociety.org .
We also urge defenders of free speech to sign this letter of protest against
the Dutch Government
http://www.petitiononline.com/wilders/petition.html
Lars Hedegaard
President of the IFPS
lhedegaard@freepressmonitor.com
Diana West
Vice President
dwest@freepressmonitor.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 22, 2009 - Washington, DC and Copenhagen, Denmark: A Dutch court yesterday ordered the criminal prosecution of Geert Wilders, Dutch parliamentarian and leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), for his statements - written, spoken and filmed -regarding Islam. The Amsterdam Court of Appeals has deemed such statements "insulting," declaring that they "substantially harm the religious esteem" of Muslims.
Clearly, the effect of this Dutch court order is to set new limits to public debate in Dutch society, in this case about the highly controversial but nonetheless crucially important subject of Islam. This makes the prosecution of Geert Wilders an unacceptable breach of the sanctity of freedom of speech in Western society.
Having ordered a criminal prosecution for the opinions of a duly elected leader of a legitimate political party, Dutch authorities have dealt a devastating blow to political expression. While Dutch prosecutors prepare their indictment and Geert Wilders' future hangs in limbo, who in The Netherlands will dare discuss political and cultural matters related to Islam - Islamic law, Islamic integration, Islamic crime, Islamic policy - openly, freely and fearlessly? The chilling effect is instantaneous. If, indeed, Wilders is ultimately convicted, free speech will cease to exist in the heart of Europe.
The International Free Press Society believes this court-ordered prosecution against Geert Wilders, a central figure in the fight against the Islamization of the West, amounts to a dangerous concession to the strictures of Islamic law, which prohibits all criticism of Islam, over Western traditions of, and rights to robust and unfettered debate. As such, it is tantamount to a surrender to totalitarian influences that undermine all Western freedoms. And as such, it must be resisted.
It is important to recall recent history. Two Dutchmen, Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, have been murdered for their outspoken opposition to Islamization in The Netherlands. Another Dutch politician, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, has been infamously forced into exile. Wilders alone now carries this debate over Islam in Dutch society forward - forcefully but logically, outspokenly but reasonably, and always peacefully. In order to do so, this member of Dutch parliament lives in a virtual prison, consigned to 24-hour guard by Islamic death threats against his life. Now, Dutch authorities have ordered him to be prosecuted for the Orwellian crime of committing "insulting" words.
As Wilders puts it, "If I have to stand trial, I will not stand trial alone, but also with the hundreds of thousands of Dutch people who reject the Islamization of The Netherlands." He will also stand trial with those in The Netherlands and beyond who reject government prosecutions of free speech. In recognition of this dire situation, the IFPS immediately calls on every supporter of free speech to come to the aid of Geert Wilders. To assist in this effort, the IFPS has launched an international campaign in defense of Geert Wilders and his freedom of speech.
To support these efforts, we urge you to contribute to the Geert Wilders Defense Fund. Donation information can be found at the IFPS website at http://www.internationalfreepresssociety.org.
Jordan seeking international arrest warrant against Wilders
Geert Wilders sends along this Dutch-language article, "Binnen tien dagen arrestatiebevel tegen Wilders," from Elsevier, January 23. Gates of Vienna has the translation:
‘Within 10 days arrest warrant for Wilders’The Jordanian Muslim movement The Messenger of Allah Unites Us (TMA) is excited that Wilders will be prosecuted by the court in Amsterdam. Juridical procedures in Jordan will lead ‘within 10 days’ to an international warrant for his arrest.
‘Finally Dutch justice takes measures against these terrible crimes’ said, Zakaria Sheikh, chairman of TMA, today in De Volkskrant.
According to Sheikh, statements by Wilder lead to ‘the worldwide sowing of hatred and violence’.
Not like Islamic terrorism. Islamic jihad preachers and acts of jihad violence don't contribute at all to the "worldwide sowing of hatred and violence." Only Wilders does that, by reporting on those acts of hatred and violence.
Boycott- - - - - - - - -
The Islamic action club (TMA) began in June last year with a boycott against Dutch products because of Wilders’ movie Fitna.
At that time a juridical procedure against the Dutch parliamentarian was initiated that had to lead to an international arrest warrant and possible extradition to Jordan. Sheikh expects the arrest warrant within 10 days.
Criminals
TMA said to the Dutch newspaper that it ‘does not have any problems with the Dutch people’. ‘But these criminals must be brought to trial’, said Sheikh.
Even so the action club doesn’t want to stop its boycott against Dutch products — which presumably is a great success. ‘We have touched the hearts and minds of the consumers’, said Sheikh.
Wilders: "The problems with Islam will only increase"
Geert Wilders interviewed about his looming prosecution. "Wilders feels persecuted in 'political process,'" by Herman Staal for NRC Handelsblad, January 23:
Geert Wilders was “completely surprised” when he heard on Wednesday that the appeals court of Amsterdam ruled he shall be prosecuted for hate speech and inciting discrimination. Last year the public prosecutor had decided not to try the controversial Dutch member of parliament for his remarks about Islam. In an interview with NRC Handelsblad Wilders says he is "shaken, but also very angry and ready to fight.""The public prosecutor agreed with me, that I can say what I said. The attorney general at the appeals court has argued the same. I never thought that things would turn out this way," Wilders says. Because of the appeals court ruling, the public prosecutor is forced to prosecute Wilders for statements such as "ban the Koran" and "the core of the problem is fascist Islam", statements Wilders has made in the media and his own film Fitna.
In its detailed order the appeals court says that your statements are a punishable offence. What do you think of the decision?
"I have studied the ruling in depth, and have come to the conclusion that it is a politically motivated verdict. Normally, in these kind of appeals cases, a court rules on subsequent steps and includes an explanation [of its legal logic]. But here the appeals court is entirely focused on the content of the case. Therefore I can no longer get a fair trial. Should I stand before the lower court judge, there will already be a peremptory ruling from the appeals court on his desk. And if I go for an appeal, I end up in the same court. The immediate colleagues of the judges who have already sentenced me, will then be in a position to rule. That is unbelievable. The Wall Street Journal editorial is right. The appeals court is introducing Saudi Arabian legal standards to the Netherlands."
But wasn't there a proper procedure, where you and your lawyer were able to stand up in your defence?
"That is not the case. I have given a statement, but the appeals court has not asked me a single question. I have not been allowed to call any witnesses or experts. This was no normal appeals procedure - this was a political process. They have given a verdict that is content-driven.. I have already been convicted. This is banana justice."
Wilders feels not only that the appeals court’s ruling is a political attack against him, but he says the pending change in Dutch anti-discrimination law is also aimed specifically at his populist PVV (Party for Freedom). Justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin (Christian Democrats) wants to do away with the legal ban on blasphemy, but at the same time change anti-discrimination act so that insulting a religion de facto means insulting the group that adheres to it.
"This is simply an anti-PVV proposition. A majority of parliament is likely to be opposed to it. But with this ruling Hirsch Ballin doesn't even need change the law anymore. Thanks to the appeals court, the jurisprudence has simply sailed into becoming law."
You have compared the Quran to Mein Kampf, and called Islam a fascist ideology. Why do you find that these remarks fit within the confines of the law?
"I am not the only one who thinks so. The public prosecutor also agrees, and many professors. Churchill said the same thing."
"I view Islam not as a religion, but as a dangerous, totalitarian ideology - equal to communism and fascism. Aren't I allowed to say so? If I say that about communism, there would not be a problem. I have never talked about people, I've always made it about ideology."
You've referred to the 'Muslim settlers.' Those are people, aren't they?
"That was not about all Muslims. That was referring to the problems in Gouda [where Moroccan youth caused problems that drew nationwide attention last October]. It was just about those Muslim settlers who spoil everything."
But couldn't that make all Muslims feel offended?
"You would be a great appeals court clerk. I am a democrat to the bone. I am allowed to say what I want."
Where do you draw the line?
"At calling for violence. Also, I will not say any base things about entire population groups. The government makes the distinction between western and non-western immigrants. I push it a bit further. But these things need to be thrashed out in the political arena, not in court."
Some critics say all this seems to suit you. You can exploit your role as victim at the hands of the political elite.
"That is a nasty insinuation. I do not want to be before a judge. I do not want to be prosecuted. I want to do my job in parliament. Hundreds of thousands of people have elected me to say what I say. I would need to be condemned if I did not speak my mind. The PVV is doing well. If elections were held today, polls indicate we would get 17 seats [in the 150 seat parliament], our highest mark in two years. The last thing I need is a lawsuit."
The world seems to be infused with new hope from the election of Obama. Isn't your whole approach and tone really 'very 2008'?
"You mean passe? It's not about the tone, it’s about the message. The problems with Islam will only increase. A bit of 'flower power' is fine, but that doesn't suit this isue [sic]. Our proposals are vital."
Wilders: His prosecution "puts hundreds of thousands of Dutchmen on trial for opposing Islam's violent messages"
"Things are not looking good for me. In its 33-page ruling ordering my prosecution, the appeals court already determined I was guilty."
I hope Wilders can come to America, and be granted asylum here. Of course, the new Administration is unlikely to look kindly upon such an appeal.
"Dutch MP behind film on radical Islam: Decision to prosecute me is political," by Cnaan Liphshitz for Haaretz, January 23 (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):
Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, the director of a controversial film on radical Islam, says the decision by the Amsterdam Court of Appeals on Wednesday to prosecute him for allegedly inciting hatred against Muslims was strictly political."It puts hundreds of thousands of Dutchmen on trial for opposing Islam's violent messages," the MP told Haaretz on Thursday. [...]
In the interview on Thursday, Wilders maintained that his film, entitled Fitna, is within the boundaries of Dutch law and freedom of expression. "I consulted numerous legal authorities before releasing the film," he stressed.
He added: "Things are not looking good for me. In its 33-page ruling ordering my prosecution, the appeals court already determined I was guilty. Now the case will be reviewed by a lower court and there's every chance the judge will align his ruling with the appeals courts."
Later in the conversation he said: "I hope this thing doesn't end behind bars." As Wilders has not yet been charged, the maximum penalty for the alleged transgressions remains unclear.
If wilders [sic] appeals a future conviction, his appeal will be heard before the same court which ordered his prosecution....
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