Dutch to prosecute anti Islam film maker

BBC:

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.

Not only he, but all Dutch citizens opposed to the "Islamisation" of their country would be on trial, Mr Wilders warned.

"Who will stand up for our culture if I am silenced?" he added.

...

"The Amsterdam appeals court has ordered the prosecution of member of parliament Geert Wilders for inciting hatred and discrimination, based on comments by him in various media on Muslims and their beliefs," the court said in a statement.

"The court also considers appropriate criminal prosecution for insulting Muslim worshippers because of comparisons between Islam and Nazism made by Wilders," it added.

The court's ruling reverses a decision last year by the public prosecutor's office, which said Mr Wilders's comments had been made outside parliament as a contribution to the debate on Islam in Dutch society and that no criminal offence had been committed.

Prosecutors said on Wednesday that they could not appeal against the judgement and would open an investigation immediately.

...

Why should not Islam be subjected to criticism. It's followers certainly do not refrain from criticism of other religions. What is particularly pernicious about this prosecution is that Wilders was using the Islamic religious bigots own words to make his point. It was like he lifted an al Qaeda video and exposed it to the world. This is a terrible decision.

Gates of Vienna has a link to a petition in support of Wilders.

Comments

  1. Holland is pretty much gone. I just hope we don't go the same way.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have the right to but hash,But no freedom of speech? Eurabia for sure!

    ReplyDelete

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