EU-DIGEST

The Ukip MEP was today summoned to see the European parliament's president, Jerzy Buzek, who demanded that he apologise to Belgium, its people and its former prime minister for his remarks.

When Farage refused, Buzek said he was considering sanctions, including possible suspension from the chamber, against him.

Note EU-Digest: Geert Wilders and Nigel Farage are abusing the liberties free speech provides to them and as such show their contempt for the democratic system they claim to protect. They consider the ability to make personal and public insults about peoples appearances, customs and religion a part of free speech. In that respect it is not much different from the days of Adolf Hitler and his followers, who continuously ridiculed and warned against the Jewish race in the Reichstag (German Parliament), public gatherings and in the press. We all know how that ended...

For the complete report from the Guardian click on this link

Labels: EU, European Parliament, Free Speech, Geert Wilders, Nigel Farage

Wilders, 46, faces criminal charges for inciting hatred. He has denounced Islam as antidemocratic and compared the Quran with Hitler's manifesto "Mein Kampf." He has proposed imposing a tax on clothing commonly worn by Muslims, such as headscarves, because they "pollute" the nation.

EU-Digest

Labels: Elections, EU, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

Labels: Almere, Elections, EU, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Netherlands

The Turkish government fears a scheduled visit by Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, saying it could dent Turkish relations with the Netherlands and Europe. The Turkish government says it fears a scheduled visit by Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, saying it could dent Turkish relations with the Netherlands and Europe. But many secular and religious Turks say they would welcome a debate with the polemic politician.

"Normally, the army belongs in the barracks. But I will make an exception for Turkey." Wilders wrote. "The Turkish army is the greatest defender of Kemal Ataturk's legacy, the man who compared Islam with a rotting corpse. Without the corrective influence of the army, Turkey would already be a second Iran." This position is incomprehensible and indefensible, said Mustafa Akyol, a columnist and deputy editor of the Turkish Daily News and a practicing Muslim. "Wilders forgets that Ataturk in his time (the 1920 and 30s) turned Turkey's face to the West, but that the West wasn't a very pleasant place at the time. Many of the European fascist and nationalist ideologies of the time, like that of authoritarian one-party states, were thus imported to Turkey and the secular Turks have held onto them until now.''

Note EU-Digest: Mr. Wilders, a one dimensional politician, who usually is completely off the track when it comes to conventional political activities and historical research, certainly read up well about Turkish history and Ataturk's legendary vision about Islam and the dangers of Islam or any religion as a State imposed religion.

Labels: Ataturk, EU, Geert Wilders, Islam, The Netherlands, Turkey

Turkish Hacker hits Dutch sites with anti-Wilders slogans

A Turkish hacker has defaced dozens of Dutch websites with pro-Islamic slogans and pictures of right-wing politician Geert Wilders edited to make him look like a monkey, a website that tracks hackers said. Wilders, a former insurance worker turned politician and filmmaker, takes an anti-EU, anti-Islamist stand and leads the Freedom Party which is widely tipped to come first or second in next year's Dutch parliamentary elections. The hacker, who goes by the name "aLpTurkTegin," wrote on some of the sites "Our war will continue against the ones who are against the real religion Islam." On some pages the hacker posted a logo calling him- or her-self "Turkish Defacer."

According to the website Zone-H, which tracks hacking attacks, aLpTurkTegin defaced at least 147 sites in the last 7 days, most of them with anti-Wilders pages. The last recorded attacks were on Friday.

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Hackers, Netherlands, Turkey

Dark Clouds above Dutch Political Environment - Geert Wilders: anti-Islam stance wins controversy and votes - by James Smyth

Wilders’s Party for Freedom (PVV), which he founded in 2004, is campaigning on a populist platform of law and order, cracking down on immigration and opposing Turkish accession to the EU. It is forecast to pick up four of the 25 Dutch seats in the European Parliament. Wilders (45) is an outspoken opponent of the EU, telling journalists: “Every voter who wants to signal that the European Union is good for nothing in its current form can do so by voting for Geert Wilders.” However he has made his name and captured worldwide public attention by criticizing Islam, recently calling for the Koran to be banned and proposing a five-year prohibition on the founding of any new mosques and Islamic schools in the Netherlands.

A recent opinion poll published by Dutch pollster Maurice de Hond found the PVV is now the most popular party in the Netherlands. The poll predicted it would pick up 27 seats in the 160-seat Dutch parliament while the ruling CDA, the Christian Democratic Appeal, would be second at 26 seats and Labour (PVDA) third on 21 seats. The Democrats 66 would get 19, the Socialists (SP) would get 18 and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) 17 seats. “Wilders will be successful in this European election and will probably capture up to 18 per cent of the vote,” says Dr Andrew Krouwel at the politics department of Free University Amsterdam. “If a general election were held, this would enable him to certainly double and perhaps triple his representation in the national parliament, which currently stands at nine seats.”

Note EU-Digest: The Dutch who have a reputation for being clever business people certainly are not using their brains when it comes to politics these days.

Geert Wilders, a populist without any real plan, is styling his political campaign based on feeding hatred and discontent into an already confused Dutch electorate, who seem to have little or no knowledge on the benefits of belonging to the EU. This comes as a result of very poor Government communication and information about the EU. In addition, there has also been very little debate in the local Dutch press about the EU, since the local press is basically on the verge of bankruptcy as a result of reduced readership and advertising income. Consequently the local Dutch press has thrown overboard any kind of in-depth journalism and instead embraced sensationalism to beef up their dwindling reader base. Since Mr. Wilders fits perfectly in this "sensationalist" category, he obviously has most of the Dutch press "salivating" over every bit of nonsense that comes out of his mouth. As to the traditional Dutch political parties, many of them have just have buried their head in the sand for self preservation.

Fortunately, as many political insiders believe, Mr. Wilders will eventually fade-out of the Dutch political system, like many other populist politicians before him. One can only hope that the damage he has already done to the social and political fabric of the Netherlands won't be permanent.

Labels: EU, European Elections, Geert Wilders, Netherlands

Geert Wilders - Dutch PM?

EU-Digest

The Netherlands: Geert Wilders, a product of collective political misperception in the Netherlands throws shadow on the Dutch concept of tolerance

Recently we read the ten commandments of Mr. Geert Wilders political party PVV, presently leading in Dutch political polls.

"1. Stop cultural relativism. We need an article in our constitutions that lays down that we have a Jewish-Christian and humanism culture. 2. Stop pretending that Islam is a religion. Islam is a totalitarian ideology. In other words, the right to religious freedom should not apply to Islam. 3. Stop mass immigration by people from Muslim countries. We have to end Al-Hijra. 4. Encourage voluntary repatriation. 5. Expel criminal foreigners and criminals with dual nationality, after denationalization, and send them back to their Arab countries. Likewise, expel all those who incite to a ‘violent jihad’. 6. We need an European First Amendment to strengthen free speech. 7. Have every member of a non-Western minority sign a legally binding contract of assimilation. 8. We need a binding pledge of allegiance in all Western countries. 9. Stop the building of new mosques. As long as no churches or synagogues are allowed to be build in countries like Saudi-Arabia we will not allow one more new mosque in our western countries. Close all mosques where incitement to violence is taking place. Close all Islamic schools, for they are fascist institutions and young children should not be educated an ideology of hate and violence. 10. Get rid of the current weak leaders. We have the privilege of living in a democracy. Let’s use that privilege and exchange cowards for heroes. We need more Churchills and less Chamberlains."

Amazing stuff, if we think that this is being proclaimed in 2009 not only by a European politician, but one born in the Netherlands, considered by many in the world as one of the most tolerant and democratic nations on earth. Three of his objectives - 6, 7, 8, also advocated by politicians from other parties, are probably acceptable, but Mr Wilders' desire to eliminate Islam from the shores of Europe and " voluntarily" repatriate Europeans who belong to the Muslim faith, bring to memory some of the saddest moments in European history. When one closely listens to Geert Wilders speaking in public, many of his arguments resemble those published before and during the second world war in Nazi Germany by a weekly tabloid called "Der Stürmer". This publication was a significant part of the Nazi propaganda machinery and was extremely anti-Semitic. Der Stürmer often ran obscene materials and propaganda-like accusations in order to appeal to a larger public of readers, especially those among the lower class. The only difference being that the Nazi's focused on the Jews and Wilders on the Muslims.

If there was an election today some opinion polls put Wilders' PVV as the biggest party in the Netherlands. According to the latest Dutch Maurice de Hond polling bureau figures, the PVV would take 32 seats out of the available 150. The party currently has nine seats in parliament. Labor leader and Government coalition member Wouter Bos (PVDA) on Monday told an audience of students at the Amsterdam's Vrije ( Free) University that his party ruled out any possibility of the PvdA being part of a coalition government with Geert Wilders' anti-Islam PVV. Bos's comments now means that all the left of center parties in the Dutch parliament are united in their unwillingness to form a coalition with Wilders after the next election. The Christian Democrats (CDA), also a member of the Dutch coalition government and the opposition conservative VVD so far have not ruled out an alliance with Wilders. Fortunately "a lot of water will still have to flow under the bridge" before the next scheduled Dutch general elections in May 2011. Right now, however, Geert Wilders, considered by his political opponents as a populist bigot is leading the pack of Dutch politicians. Whatever happens in the 2011 general elections, or maybe even earlier, this trend favoring Geert Wilders also shows that the majority of Dutch citizens really are not as tolerant as some people say they are. The positive side of this controversial debate is that it shows that democracy, freedom of speech and religion are a common right of every EU citizen. No one needs to fear persecution by speaking out on, or expressing an opinion about any issue. That applies to everyone, including Mr. Wilders.

Labels: Elections, EU, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

Dutch MP Geert Wilders would become next prime minister in poll

Dutch MP Geert Wilders would become the next prime minister of The Netherlands if elections were to be held this month. His Party for Freedom (PVV) now holds nine seats, but a top local pollster finds that he's now so popular that he would get 27 seats. Top pollster Maurice de Hond said Wilders' PVV -party would get 27 seats - one more than the ruling coalition partners Christian Democrats' 26 and the Labour Party's 21 seats. The fourth-largest party in this poll would be Democrats-66 party with 19 seats. This means that if an election were to be held this month, Wilders' party would gain so many votes that he would be asked to form the next coalition government in The Netherlands. And it would be the first time in history than an elected Western country's leader would have to live with a Fatwa, an islamist death-order, on his head. Wilders has been under constant guard ever since the murder of Dutch cineast Theo van Gogh 4 years ago, when a death-warrant against Wilders was pinned to the outspoken Van Gogh's chest by his murderer.

Note EU-Digest: The truth of the matter is that Geert Wilders is not for real, instead one could describe him to be an "egocentric fascist populist", who plays the nationalist martyr, avoids talk shows and uses dramatic "one liners" he never is able to back up. Even after his recent visit to the USA some of his conservative Republican hosts stated on TV and radio that they considered him to be a political opportunist. In the Netherlands he might be able to fool many people, but he won't be able to fool everyone all the time. One thing is clear - Geert Wilders certainly is a lively diversion within the drab, musty and Calvinist Dutch political system, but he will never be able to become the Dutch PM. Political leadership requires foresight and the ability to make alliances. Those are not Geert Wilders his strong points.

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

Banned Dutch MP Geert Wilders hits out at 'cowards' after being sent back - by David Charter

Geert Wilders, the far-right Dutch politician, branded the British Government “the biggest bunch of cowards in Europe” after he flew in to Heathrow yesterday and was promptly put on the first plane back under the Home Secretary's banning order. “It was the worst welcome of my life,” the Freedom Party MP told The Times as he sat on the runway yesterday evening waiting to return to the Netherlands after being denied entry because he was deemed to pose a threat to public order. On the flight back, Mr Wilders vowed to appeal against the ban and make another attempt to visit Britain soon. But it became clear last night that Jacqui Smith’s prohibition order had brought Mr Wilders massive publicity in Britain and many more online searches for his controversial antiIslamist film, Fitna.

The decision to refuse Mr Wilders entry provoked Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch Foreign Minister, to call David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to protest against the decision. “The fact that a Dutch parliamentarian is refused entry to another EU country is highly regrettable,” Mr Verhagen said.

Labels: Britain, EU, Freedom of Speech, Geert Wilders, Netherlands

Dutch right wing politician Geert Wilders plans to defy UK entry ban to show controversial film critical of Qur'an - by Haroon Siddique

Geert Wilders, the rightwing Dutch politician accused of Islamophobia, said today he was planning to defy a ban on entering the UK and hoped to arrive this afternoon. But a spokesman for his Freedom party said he feared Wilders, who was due to show his 17-minute film Fitna, which criticizes the Qur'an as a "fascist book", at the House of Lords today, would not be allowed to leave the Netherlands by the airline.

On Tuesday, Wilders received a letter from the Home Office refusing him entry because his opinions "threaten community security and therefore public security".

Note EU-Digest: Even though we do not agree with the political viewpoints of Mr. Wilders, it is not only a scandal but also illegal that one member of the EU (in this case Britain) bars entry on to its territory by a parliamentarian of another member state (in this case the Netherlands). Maybe Britain and all members of the EU should be reminded in a "resolution" by the EU Parliament that the EU is a community of democratic, secular states, with freedom of movement by its members, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.

Labels: Britain, EU, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

Anti Geert Wilders cartoon

For the complete report from the BBC NEWS click on this link

Islam film Dutch MP Geert Wilders to be charged

A Dutch court has ordered prosecutors to put a right-wing politician on trial for making anti-Islamic statements. Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders made a controversial film last year equating Islam with violence and has likened the Koran to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.

"In a democratic system, hate speech is considered so serious that it is in the general interest to... draw a clear line," the court in Amsterdam said. Mr Wilders said the judgement was an "attack on the freedom of expression". "Participation in the public debate has become a dangerous activity. If you give your opinion, you risk being prosecuted," he said.

Note EU-Digest: Even though we have expressed indignation about the Geert Wilders Islam movie, it is unacceptable in a democratic society to prosecute someone for expressing his or her opinion. Freedom of expression also includes the above cartoon of Mr. Wilders head being chopped off. If we accept these kinds of legal procedures in a democratic society we can just as well start chopping off hands Saudi Justice style of people who have been caught stealing or the head of someone who has committed adultery?

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Islam, Legal System, Netherlands

Geert Wilders Party is Extreme Right Says Study by Leiden University and the Anne Frank Foundation

The Party for Freedom (PVV) can be classified as extreme right, the University of Leiden and the Anne Frank foundation conclude. They presented their Racism and Extremism Monitor yesterday. "The problem of 'Islamophobia' has increased substantially in the Netherlands during the past year," the Anne Frank foundation stated. "This is not just a question of the climate of negative opinion concerning Muslims, but also of the rise in violence against this community". The foundation went on to say that "the extreme right-wing landscape in the Netherlands has changed fundamentally in recent years, on the one hand due to a sharp rise in far-right street activism, and on the other hand because of the way the increasingly radical Party for Freedom has manifested itself. The PVV can be classified as extreme right." Head researcher Jaap van Donselaar observed that the PVV is extreme right because of "the positive orientation on that which is indigenous (nationalism) and the strong aversion to that which is foreign (racism)". A court should decide whether the PVV should be banned, he declared.

Labels: EU, Extreme Right, Geert Wilders, Netherlands

The Cordoba Great Mosque

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Europe's Muslim Legacy

In a fascinating book, God's Crucible: Islam and the making of Modern Day Europe, by David Levering Lewis one will quickly agree with the author that it took two ingredients to make Europeans believe in themselves as the center of civilization. One was the creation of the vast Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne. The other was the development of the Muslim culture in what is now known as the region of Andalusia, Spain. The Arabs called it al-Andalus with the Great Mosque as the most striking physical example of this Muslim foothold in Europe. What probably was even more impressive, leaving a lasting mark on Europe were the Muslims intellectual and cultural achievements. Hundreds of mosques, thousands of palaces, scores of libraries were build in Córdoba alone. Towards the end of the ninth century, those libraries had acquired hundreds of thousands of manuscripts. Nothing else on the continent of Europe could compare. Just imagine the university of Córdoba was established more than one hundred years before the one in Bologna, Italy, considered today as the first European university.

Al-Andalus was already a truly regional cosmopolitan agglomeration of cities, when the rest of Europe was still a feuding environment of country estates and small towns. Towards the end of the millennium, Córdoba had a population of more than 90,000, many times the size of any town in the territories occupied by Charlemagne. Those Andalusian cities also became a great ethnic melting pot of Jews, Muslims, Christians, Arabs, Berbers, Germanic, Slavs, and countless other cultures. These eventually spread throughout the continent and transformed a barbaric Europe into a more enlightened and modern European society.

Maybe Europe's far right politicians, including Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, French "Front National" leader Jean-Marie le Pen and Belgian far-right politician Filip Dewinte should take the time to read God's Crucible: Islam and the making of Modern Day Europe, by David Levering Lewis. Who knows, they might realize al-Andalus showed Europe that what must empower man should always be compassion not hate.

Labels: Andalusia, Christianity, Cordoba, EU, Europe, Filip Fewinte, Geert Wilders, Islam, Jean-Marie le Pen, Spain

Dutch Muslims React with Restraint to MP's Controversial Film

Muslims in the Netherlands have reacted calmly to the Internet release of a controversial film critical of Islam by Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders, but elsewhere passions run high.Initial reactions from the Muslim community in the Netherlands were restrained. The evening after the film's release passed without incident, in contrast to the unrest that swept the country following the murder by an Islamic militant in 2004 of film director Theo van Gogh, another Dutch artist who was accused of offending Islam.

Prime Minister Balkenende praised the efforts of his government to defuse Muslim anger in the months preceding the release of the film and welcomed the initial Muslim response. "The government is heartened by the initial restrained reactions of Dutch Muslim organizations," he said. "The Dutch government stands for a society in which freedom and respect go hand in hand... Let us solve problems by working together." Dutch politicians distanced themselves from Wilders and his film. "The Netherlands does not need Wilders as a filmmaker," said Mark Rutte, leader of the Dutch Liberal VVD party -- of which Wilders himself was a member until being thrown out in September 2004. "We need Wilders as a legislator, to debate about the Netherlands and to find solutions for serious problems, including the problems of integration and immigration."

Note EU-Digest: In Holland Muslims appeared much less motivated to take action against Wilders. The possible reason for this passive reaction? Dutch Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists seem to have found a common denominator: EU Citizenship, Democracy, and Free Enterprise. It might not be perfect, but its certainly better than cutting each others throat or having some fanatic blow up your family.

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Integration, Muslims, The Netherlands

Danish Cartoonist to Seek Legal Advice on Wilders Film - by Tasneem Brogger

The Danish cartoonist behind a caricature of the prophet Muhammad that sparked riots two years ago will seek legal advice after the Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders used the image in a film linking the Koran to violence. ``My drawing shouldn't be connected with something I don't know about,'' Kurt Westergaard, who drew the cartoon of the prophet wearing a bomb in his turban, told broadcaster TV2 in a telephone interview. ``It was done as a protest against terrorism and shouldn't be used in a general campaign against Muslims.'' Wilders's 15-minute film, ``Fitna,'' features verses from the Koran alongside images of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001 and on Madrid trains in 2004. The film was released on the Internet yesterday. Westergaard's whereabouts are unknown and he's been under police protection since receiving death threats for producing the cartoon

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Nationalis

Dutch Government Rejects Parliamentarian's Anti-Islam Movie - by van de Pol

The Dutch government rejected an anti-Islam movie released yesterday by nationalist party leader Geert Wilders in which he links the Koran to violence. The 15-minute movie ``Fitna'' features verses from the Koran alongside images of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Madrid train bombings in 2004. The movie was posted on the Internet. ``The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this interpretation,'' Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told a news conference in The Hague yesterday. ``We regret that Mr. Wilders has released this film. We believe it serves no purpose other than to cause offense, but feeling offended must never be used as an excuse for aggression and threats.''

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders

Democracy also includes freedom of speech and worship - "The Netherlands,Democracy, Geert Wilders and Fitna

If you want to know why Geert Wilders is allowed to say whatever he wants to say in the Netherlands just click on this link.

Labels: Democracy, EU, Fitna, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

Living in a secret location with 24-hour bodyguards, Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders faces even tougher security after his film on Islam prompted an increased terror alert even before its release. The 44-year-old politician with a striking mane of blonde hair thrives on the publicity he gets calling for an end to immigration from Muslim countries and for Turkey to be kept out of the European Union.Wilders started his political career in the rightwing liberal VVD party. He became a deputy in 1998 but left the VVD in September 2004 saying it was not rightwing enough. He created his own Freedom party before elections in 2006. The party's hardline position on immigration helped the Wilders' group win nine seats in the 150 member parliament.

Wilders is married to a Bulgarian whom he admits "sometimes does not agree with my ideas". He lists his hobbies on his website as reading and writing.

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Islam, The Netherlands

EU-Digest Report

The Netherlands: Stop Wilders Committee formed in the Netherlands by Dutch Citizens

Anyone who does not agree with the anti-Koran movie Fitna by Dutch right-wing parliamentarian Geert Wilders in the Netherlands can now indicate that by wearing an anti-Wilders T-Shirt reports the Dutch Telegraaf newspaper.

The organizers of this protest campaign are non-Muslims who have no sympathy for any type of extremism in the Dutch society and who feel that the road chosen by Wilders to express his personal feelings about Islam is not correct and will only lead to more violence. The organizers of the protest noted, "We want to provide an outlet for ordinary people who are upset about the Wilders movie. Wilders, because of his public privileged position is able to walk around as "an elephant in a China cabinet" on this issue, while the silent majority in the Netherlands, which does not agree with the airing of his movie, is forced, to stay silent.

For additional information about the campaign see also http://wwww.stopwilders.com The organizers of the campaign are planning to start handing out the anti-Wilders T-Shirts in all the major Dutch cities during the coming days.

Labels: Fitna, Geert Wilders, Islam, The Netherlands

Oscar winner Marion Cotillard accuses US of fabricating 9/11 terror attacks - by Peter Allen and Adrian Butler

Oscar winner Marion Cotillard has accused America of fabricating the 9/11 terror attacks. A clip of the surprise best actress winner ranting that New York's Twin Towers may not have been destroyed by terrorists was leaked on to the internet.Cotillard, who won the best actress Academy Award, Bafta and Golden Globe for her performance as singer Edith Piaf, was asked about 9/11 and said: "I think we're lied to about a number of things."

Note EU-Digest:Let us not forget there is something we call freedom of speech. In a democratic society freedom of speech is not qualified by how what one says is perceived, but by the inherent human right to voice one's opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment. Marion Cotillard from France is just as free to say there was a 9/11 conspiracy as that Geert Wilders in Holland can produce a movie which implies that the Quaran incites hatred.

Labels: EU, Free Speech, Geert Wilders, Marion Cotillard, US

Wilders's great ordeal - by Mark Bogaers

This Dutch MP deserves some credit for challenging social democracy and multiculturalism in the Netherlands. I have been pretty critical of Geert Wilders lately. I have dismissed his plans to ban Muslims from obtaining permanent residence in the Netherlands, and I never liked his call for banning the Qur'an either. If Wilders's soon-to-be-published film on the Qur'an consists of nothing more than him shockingly calling the book "fascist" and burning its pages on the fireplace, the Dutch will be better off without it. On the other hand, it might just turn out that this film, entitled "Fitna" (Arabic for "ordeal"), will actually teach us something about the Qur'an and the way it is currently being adopted by radical Muslims all over the world.

One particular development has raised my hopes in this respect: just after I had in a Dutch blog mourned the fact that Wilders hardly ever explains his views in extensive interviews (but, indeed, usually limits his parliamentary contribution to mere oneliners), he was interviewed by Fox News. Even though Fox's anchor was clearly anxious about religious sensitivities on the part of his Muslim audience, Wilders brought his message across in a polite, calm and thorough manner, speaking with a clear accent but in otherwise excellent English.

Asked about his upcoming movie, Wilders answered: "Qur'an is Islam, unfortunately. The movie is about both. The main issue is the book, the fascist book, the Qur'an. And what I want to show with this movie ... is to show to people that many verses from many surahs are very bad indeed, and still, even today -- and I'm not talking about centuries ago -- are inspiring people to do the worst. Often implemented in laws in many countries in the Middle East, but, once again, also in Europe and the United States, it's inspiring people to do the worst things. And this is what I want to show, why we should get rid of this terrible book."

Despite his pessimism on this matter, he made one thing crystal clear when he said: "But I do believe in people. Which means that if Muslims try, really want, to assimilate in the Dutch society, they will have to get rid of the tough and intolerant and fascist parts of the Qur'an. But if they want to assimilate, and take our values to their values, of course, I have nothing against them. They are worth, and have chances, as much as you and me or any other." How radical is it, really, to expect Dutch residents to live up to the standards of this country?

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Terrorism, The Netherlands

For the complete report from Radio Netherlands click on this link

The Netherlands - Europe should explain Wilders to world - by Erik Hesen

Dutch MP Alexander Pechtold wants the Netherlands to form a common front with other European countries to explain to Muslims around the world why the anti-Qur'an film by right-wing MP Geert Wilders has not been banned. The leader of the democrat party D66 wants the Dutch government to do more to spell out what democracy and freedom of expression exactly stand for in Europe. The debate surrounding Mr Wilders' anti-Islam movie focuses too much on the Dutch context, according to Mr Pechtold. "The cabinet constantly warns Mr. Wilders about the film's consequences. We should address ourselves more to other countries. Here we are accustomed to democracy and freedom of expression but not everyone abroad is. Elsewhere fundamentalists seize on these sort of films to preach hatred against the West. We have to explain what our fundamental rights represent. Maybe the prime minister should explain the matter on Al Jazeera. Or Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb [the deputy minister for social affairs], who speaks Arabic. Maybe things won't be so bad, because we are dealing with them now. It's hard to say. It all depends on how foreign regimes will exploit the movie. Foreign regimes often have double agendas. Iran's authorities are using this incident to try and counter economic sanctions. The thing to do, therefore, is to reach people directly, bypassing governments, to explain what democracy entails. I really regard democracy as an export product. We shouldn't just pursue economic interests but also strive to make people aware of our democratic values." Mr Pechtold stresses, however, that it's Mr Wilders' own responsibility to decide whether or not to broadcast the film. The Public Prosecutor only can determine whether the film breaches any constitutional rights once it has been shown. Mr Wilders appears undeterred by all the commotion. He dismissed the prime minister's warnings accusing the cabinet of capitulating to Islam, something he vowed he will never do.

Note EU-Digest: Mr. Pechtold is right. Freedom of expression and tolerance is the issue, not what is being said. Blackmail is not acceptable.

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Islam, Musllim, Netherlands

The Netherlands: Violence fear over Islam film - by Jason Burke

The Dutch government is bracing itself for violent protests following the scheduled broadcast this week of a provocative anti-Muslim film by a radical right-wing politician who has threatened to broadcast images of the Koran being torn up and otherwise desecrated. Cabinet ministers and officials, fearing a repetition of the crisis sparked by the publication of cartoons of Muhammad in a Danish newspaper two years ago, have held a series of crisis meetings and ordered counter-terrorist services to draw up security plans. Dutch nationals overseas have been asked to register with their embassies and local mayors in the Netherlands have been put on standby.

From her self-imposed exile in Washington, Hirsi Ali last week criticized the new film as 'provocation' and called on the major Dutch political parties to restart a debate on immigration that has split Dutch society in recent years, rather than leave the field to extremists.Job Cohen, the left-wing mayor of Amsterdam, echoed Hirsi Ali's words and called for a debate 'so that the moderates can make themselves heard'.

Note EU-Digest: Hirsi Ali is to be complimented for her stand on this issue. Freedom of expression includes the right to offend, but certainly not the right to provoke violence. If Wilders suggests that tearing up the Koran (or the Bible for that matter) would be a good idea, it could probably pass as freedom of expression. On the other hand if he says that the Koran (Bible) must be torn up, or used as toilet paper, he is overstepping the boundaries of freedom of expression and decency and indirectly inciting violence as a result of that statement. Many people feel that Mr. Geert Wilders, the maker of the film, should be taken into court if his film results in violence or death. The same as would apply to anyone who would kill Mr. Wilders as a result of his film. The tactics applied by Mr. Geert Wilders, a populist-conservative politician, are very similar to those that were applied by the Nazis against the Jews. These kind of tactics do not belong in todays Europe.

Labels: EU, European Unity, Geert Wilders, Religion, The Netherlands

Belgium ?Netherlands: Right-wing groups launch anti-Islamisation campaign - by Vanessa Mock

Far-right groups are calling for a ban on the building of new mosques as part of a new campaign to stop the spread of radical Islam in Europe. Belgium's far-right Vlaams Belang party teamed up with radical groups from Austria and Germany on Thursday to launch a Charter to 'fight the Islamisation of West-European cities'."We are not opposed to freedom of religion but we don't want Muslims to impose their way of life and traditions over here because much of it is not compatible with our way of life," Vlaams Belang's Filip Dewinter told Radio Netherlands Worldwide. "We can't accept head scarves in our schools, forced marriages and the ritual slaughter of animals." Aside from Austria's Freedom Party (FPö), there was a notable absence of other political heavyweights during the press conference in the Flemish city of Antwerp. A spokesman for Italy's Allianza Nazionale said he was unaware of the Charter, though his party too was looking at the issue of the new mosques. Dutch right-wing maverick politician Geert Wilders, who is currently producing a film about the danger of the Koran, also stayed away. But Mr Dewinter seems unruffled by the paltry political support: "This movement may be small today but I am convinced it will grow into something major." News of the Charter was greeted with dismay in Antwerp's Borgerhout, a multi-cultural neighbourhood counting over 90 nationalities. "It's pure provocation," shrugged Said El Fetri, a Moroccan shopkeeper. "I have Belgians, East Europeans, Jews and Muslims coming in and out of my shop, there are no problems with integration here." Standing next to his counter of Halal meat, he added: "I am a Muslim but that doesn't mean that I don't live by the rules of this country." However, another local shopkeeper, Mohammed, was gloomier: "I've lived here for almost 40 years. Me and my children are perfectly integrated but these kinds of campaigns worry me. In ten years' time, it won't be possible for us to live side by side like this anymore."

Note EU-Digest: Even though these kinds of provocative expressions and declarations by populist right wing groups, represented by Wilders, Dewinter and other like minded politicians are deplorable, they are acceptable within Europe's laws related to the freedom of expression. A possible way to combat these right wing movements is initially to call for massive peaceful demonstrations, in every major city of Europe. to support integration and multiculturalism . This, in addition to starting a well coordinated long term campaign of dialog on these issues at schools, universities, religious centers, in the press, and on TV and Radio. Best of all, the voters should make sure that these right-wing politicians are kept from winning in elections, by voting against them. Europe, on the other hand, should not allow any Grand Mufti to threaten Europeans about the risks involved if they allow people like Wilders or DeWinter to use or abuse the European Citizen's right of free speech. In that case we must remind these Muftis that in Europe we have a democratic society, where free speech and womens rights are paramount parts of the system and cover every citizen, including European Muslims.

Labels: Belgium, DeWinter, EU, Extreme Right, Free Speech, Geert Wilders, Islam

The Netherlands: What's eating Geert Wilders?

Since his departure from the Liberal Party (VVD) in 2004, precipitated by, among other things, disagreement on Turkey's EU-candidacy, Geert Wilders has become steadily more radical in word and deed, claiming all the while only to be interested in freedom; in November 2005 for instance, he called for the burqa to be banned from the street because it was such an offensive symbol of the oppression of women.

Like Fortuyn, Wilders is a narcissist. His divisive and destructive prattle is utterly self-serving, the more radically outspoken his intolerance, the more attention he generates. For the narcissist, attention is highly addictive and like the drug addict, the narcissist will go to greater and greater lengths to get his fix, becoming ever more destructive along the way. Ultimately, addiction's primary victim is often the addict themselves; we can only hope that this will be the case with Wilders' evermore reckless sating of his steadily burgeoning appetite for attention.

Labels: EU, France, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands

"Dutch Parliamentarian Wilders incites hate" - "Wilders needs to be impeached" - EU-Digest

A lawyer from Lelystad reported to police on Wednesday to bring a case against Geert Wilders. Els Lucas says that the politician's letter published in the Volkskrant on Wednesday incites hate between population groups. In the letter Wilders compares the Koran with Hitler's Mein Kampf and urges that the holy book of Islam be banned. "I think that is really taking it too far. Moreover it is unseemly that a member of Parliament is expressing himself in this manner," Lucas said.

EU-Digest Comment: Mr. Wilders statements show that he does not deserve to be a Dutch Parliamentarian and needs to be impeached. Unfortunately the Dutch government majority will probably not have the stomach to do anything significant to make Mr. Wilders understand that statements like this incite hate and have nothing to do with freedom of speech. The "cosmetic" reactions by the Dutch political system following the Srebrenica massacre, when Dutch UN troops did not lift a finger to stop this mass murder of innocent civilians, is a good example of how weak the Dutch political establishment is when it comes to taking any firm action to punish their own. We can only hope that this time the Dutch government will set an example and take the appropriate action against Mr. Wilders.

Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, The Netherlands