Official reactions to the news that Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, can be prosecuted for discriminatory remarks in public are few and far between outside the Netherlands. Obviously the world's press have decided that the latest development in the Netherlands is not worth commenting on. Surprisingly, Dutch politicians themselves seem to be keeping quiet on the issue; they are probably worried that media attention will only serve to make the controversial politician more popular.
In a run through the comments made on websites reporting on the news, there are those that support Wilders' freedom of speech and others who wish he hadn't been given the free publicity.
Saudi Arabian standards
An opinion piece from The Wall Street Journal says there are limits to freedom of speech but "Mr Wilders has not crossed that line". The paper argues that: "It is controversial speech that needs to be protected. Consensus views need no protection." The WSJ compares yesterday's decision to Saudi Arabian standards and warns that it will only "increase support for Mr Wilders' argument that Muslim immigration is eroding traditional Dutch values."On a website called Europenews which carries the slogan "no tolerance for intolerance, no apology for being free", Pamela Geller writes: "The enemies of free speech are closing in, and we have to stand together now and defend it. Everyone who loves freedom and wants to resist the straitjacket of groupthink and the totalitarian imposition of Sharia norms should stand with Geert Wilders now."
Many of the reactions on the Israeli website Haaretz support Mr Wilder's position, maybe not surprising as he recently visited the country on a world tour promoting his film Fitna and is a well-known supporter of Israel.
Schmidlap says: "Yet another case of "killing the messenger" because the truth is painful. The Dutch judicial system would be wiser to prosecute the real hate mongers in their country: those that Wilders exposes."
And B writes: "Wilders should NOT be facing charges for telling the truth... Europe has no idea what it let into their countries..."
Obama
In the comments reacting to an article by Vanessa Mock in The Independent in which she quotes Barack Obama, "you can't have diversity if you brand one group as extremists"
Schlomo gives her little credence: "Really? Was that from a fortune cookie, or read on the wall of a bus station lavvy?"
Tendryakov takes the matter more seriously and warns: "The Netherlands is now the most shocking country in Europe. Once a bastion of freedom, now the country which is most besieged by Islamic threat and blackmail. Undoubtedly it will be the nucleus of the future Islamic Caliphate of Europe."
But stote007 does not agree, saying:
"Unfortunately this court case will supply him with more publicity and he will play the martyr card unrelentingly. Hopefully his pronouncements will continue to be so extreme that his already faltering credibility will ebb away to a point where he can fall back into the hole he crawled out of and never be heard from again."
Free hero
Susiet99 reminds the readers about the subdued reactions to Mr Wilder's film Fitna when it first came out, in spite of the hype that preceded its launch, and concludes:
"Maybe that's much the best way of dealing with someone like Wilders, rather than taking him to court and possibly making a free speech hero out of him." And that seems to be how the Arab world has reacted this time too. Many Arabic sites, such as Ashaq al Awsat and Alarabiya, have given factual accounts of the announcement. In the comments, their readers generally welcome the decision, but the reactions are by no means extreme.
Benqarizya points out the dilemma of prosecuting Mr Wilders: "During a trial he can cherry pick the quotes that support his standpoint and get a vast amount of coverage in he world's press. Ignoring him may have been a better idea."
The Spectator may be right when it says: "This is a defining moment for Europe. It is when people have to decide what side they are on." One thing is for certain - whichever side of the fence you are on - this latest legal development will polarise opinions on the whole issue on how far you can take freedom of speech.
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I just do not get it, hasn´t any of these liberal left wing dhimmis read anything of the hadith´s, what the Nazi´s got up to was an utter horror. Instead of reading the watered down versions of Mohamad´s activities, take one example from the Hadith, an old and wise woman who was at least 90 years old, she spoke desparigingly of the prophet. He got his Nazi thugs to bring her in she was stripped naked hanged upside down by her feet, a rope was tied to each leg, the other end of these ropes were fastened to rwo camels the camels were cruely beaten and of course panicked and pulled the old lady Um Kerfa into two halves. Mohamed thankedh is thugs for ridding him of this old and harmless Um Kefa. Theres alot more, the hadiths are utterly terrible and frightening to read. This is Islam, you do not think so? take a look at the Taliban, Iran, Libya and Syria. You dopes think that Geerd Wilders is a hate monger, he´s got what you left wing Dhimmis will never have, guts and brains
Geert Wilders is only saying the truth, look around you, everywhere you look at, the cost of living, to take the plane, security expences, uncertainty, war etc...the economy overall, throughout the whole world is going down because of the rise of islam in the world, open your eyes, don't hide, were at war with our neighbour, we let them in our country with open arms, and we realize now that it was to exploit our country and to have control.
Geert Wilders is only saying the truth, look around you, everywhere you look at, the cost of living, to take the plane, security expences, uncertainty, war etc...the economy overall, throughout the whole world is going down because of the rise of islam in the world, open your eyes, don't hide, were at war with our neighbour, we let them in our country with open arms, and we realize now that it was to exploit our country and to have control.
It seems to me that 'people are simply not getting the message from the messenger'. Folk around the World need to consider the much larger picture than just Amsterdam, and the Netherlands. Go down memory lane, and note what has happened and is happening to Serbia/Kosovo, Metohija, and Bosnia ? The Serbs have been and are being systematically ethnically cleanse of their Nation and their Identity. All of which has been crafted by none other than the USA, Britain and other World Powers conducting themselves in an illegal manner against international laws of the United Nations. But unfortunately, this Global Institution has been usurped by the OIC with its' 56/or 54 member states, thereby having substantial and strategic control of the voting block within the structure of the UN; i.e. review for example the recently passed UN legislation on Hate Speech toward Muslims, with the provision of criminal prosecution for such persons, people, organizations and Inter Net Web Sites which convey the seditious doctrines of the Islamic Ideology, you may also review the Web Site; "Gates Of Vienna" for further supportive documentation concerning these issues. It is with great importance that all of us, understand that the very sovereignty of Western Civilization is at stake with this Trail of Greet Wilders and to be sure, do not think for a minute that the OIC is not being supportive of the Dutch Court; Not with standing, the recently passed Dutch Laws supportive also of Islamic "Freedoms". How blind these Institutions are in not recognizing the 'enemy from within" who has been unabashedly open and frank with respect to their intentions, goals and strategies: Namely bring about a World under the Power and control of Islamic-Sharia World Dominance! Look with a critical and observant eye as to the goings on in Countries like the UK, Germany, France-[although they have recently stated that Muslims are to be in compliance with FRENCH LAW AND CULTURE AND LANGUAGE-OR FACE DEPORTATION!]; Would that other Nations who claim to be " Super Powers" harken to this message! It' is as Greet so often says in his talks: "It is five minutes to Twelve" and the clock is ticking against us if we do not wake up. I am further reminded of a similar historical case, taking place in Germany during WWII, with the call of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who sounded the call against Hitler. It is also noteworthy to mention that here in America-Islamic Stealth Jihad-has so far infiltrated into ALL levels of Government: the Congress, the Senate, CIA, FBI, State Department, Homeland Security, and DHS-Department of Human Services-this combined with an unbelievable doctrine of "Political Correctness" and "Multiculturalism"; which has further been noted here on the Inter-Net that Muslims who are deeply involved in Jihad are in fact teaching and holding seminars with the FBI. CIA and National Security in coordinating "Strategic Polices to fight the Jihad" Obviously, then the "enemy" knows all of our Intelligence Information and therefor protects itself from being caught. Indeed, even our "Courageous and Heroic Soldiers, are not even allowed to defend themselves in the face of an attack, because the "enemy" has learned our policy of No firing where civilians are present". Hence the enemy uses this military policy against us to their advantage! As a result the "death Toll" in Afghanistan is raising rapidly! With our soldiers becoming ever increasingly demoralized by their hand being tied by and from "policy makers" who have never been or faced the enemy in the battle field! Al together we are being perceived by this "enemy" with "weakness" that I would name as "Horrific" Awake, be aware of the particular "Fragility" of the "Freedoms that we currently possess in this country but also throughout the Free World. Unless we are prepared to take serious risks toward our very lives, as Greet Wilders, Robert Spencer and others are doing we will in the end loose these precious treasures with whom many have througout our history have given their lives in battle! We ought not to forget this and even at this hour, our troops are still doing as best they can for this cause of Liberty. signed Orthodoxpilgrim.
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