US based Legal Project defending Dutch Islam critic
...That is the real weakness of the prosecution, because most of the film looks like excerpts from an al Qaeda propaganda video. It is just his conclusion that this is wrong that seems to disturb his critics. It is good to see that Americans are coming to his defense.
"The decision of the court today was so strong that there is a real chance unfortunately that there will be a guilty verdict," Wilders told FOXNews.com. "In fact, it was so bluntly motivated that it already looks like a verdict instead of just ordering the public prosecutor to start a trial."
...A three-judge appeals panel on Wednesday ruled that Wilders' insults to Islam were so egregious that the principle of free speech was not sufficient defense.
"The court considers [Wilders' film] so insulting for Muslims that it is in the public interest to prosecute Wilders," a summary of the court's decision said. The court explained that Wilders' claims in "Fitna" and other media statements were "one-sided generalizations ... which can amount to inciting hatred."
Wilders on Wednesday defiantly stood by the public statements that could put him in prison.
"I lost my freedom already four and a half years ago in October 2004, when my 24-hour police protection started because of threats by Muslims in Holland and abroad to kill me," he said.
"So of course I don't want to go to jail as a criminal, but I don't fear losing my freedom since I already lost my freedom in 2004."
For several months, Wilders has been receiving pro bono assistance from a U.S.-based nonprofit called the Legal Project, whose aim is to protect free speech in what it says is a worldwide campaign to silence critics of "militant" Islam.
Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes founded the Legal Project following a slew of cases in which authors and activists were sued for alleged hate speech against Muslims and Islam, including several cases in the United States.
"The Legal Project helped me when I was in the United States, arranging meetings with important legal scholars and elected officials," Wilders told FOXNews.com. "They also helped bring public attention to my case, which hopefully will help me raise money for my legal defense fund."
Click here for more on Legal Project.
Brooke Goldstein, a human rights attorney and director of the Legal Project, said Wilders' case indicates that free speech is increasingly under assault. "Geert Wilders could be going to jail for making admittedly harsh criticisms of Islam that actually echo statements made by Muslims," Goldstein said.
...
Comments
Post a Comment