Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Geert Wilders on Trial


January 20, 2010 on Russia Today
The trial of a Dutch anti-islam politician charged with hate crimes has begun in Amsterdam. It is a landmark case testing the limits of free speech in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders has been charged with incitement of hatred and discrimination against Muslims. In his short film, Fitna, he compared the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf. Supporters of Mr Wilders have been demonstrating outside the Amsterdam court. If he loses he faces two years in prison.

11 comments:

  1. <span>Scary! I'm gonna give my first amendment a big hug and a kiss when I get home today.</span>

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  2. I don't trust Geert Wilders in the slightest, he smells like a cloaked racist to me. However this trial is an insult to democratic principles.

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  3. The comparison of the Koran to Mien Kampf was a bit much for sane people to swallow, but he shouldn't be on trial for criticizing a religion or characterized as a racist because of his irreligious views.

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  4. <p>"The comparison of the Koran to Mien Kampf was a bit much for sane people to swallow..."
    </p><p>Maybe so though.. Winston Churchill wrote about Mein Kampf - "Here was the new Koran of faith and war: turgid, verbose, shapeless, but pregnant with its message."
    </p>

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  5. what would be fair is not to prosecute any hate speech whether it is anti semitism which no1 ever talks about and which lands ppl in jail for years in many euro nations having its own legislation or whether it is any other religion- or you have total free speech where hate crime is not a crime! but this is where the paradox of the lefties starts- do we ban hate crime against minorities or do we ban free speech???

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  6. My sentiments exactly

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  7. I am from a Muslim background, but I'm an atheist. I used to be a believer, now I am not, a hard line skeptic.

    One thing I always had a knack for was sussing out nasty people whatever their background or whatever their views. When a believer, I disliked him, as a non-believer, I still dislike him. He just oozes a fanatical blind hatred, and one can tell quite easily that good, respectful relations with a good majority of people is not an ideal of his.

    On the other hand, when a believer, I strongly was against Richard Dawkins opinions and views, but in fact RESPECTED him for being eloquently vocal and GENUINE! As a non-believer, what's changed is that now I simply agree with his primary views.

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  8. I may not go as far as the saying, but the sentiment is definitely there: "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

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  9. This is about the limits of free speech. We all agree that we do not have the right to shout fire in a crowded public building, when their is no fire - and this is for good reasons.

    Calling the Koran Mein Kempf and saying it should be banned is not free speech. Who hear agrees with Wildners that the Koran should be banned. Wildner is the one attacking free speech.

    He also thinks that Islam should be classified as a terrorist religion?

    Free speech of course, but not free to spread hate, panic and the results that will follow. Teaching extremists the limits of free speech s something that applies to extremists on both sides - not just one!

    Alan

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  10. <p>"This is about the limits of free speech. We all agree that we do not have the right to shout fire in a crowded public building, when their is no fire - and this is for good reasons."
    </p><p>Sure, but when there actually is a fire it does sound quite sensible to do just that (among others). Also when someone is playing indoors with matches/fire it's more than wise to warn about the dangers as well.
    </p><p>"Calling the Koran Mein Kempf and saying it should be banned is not free speech. Who hear agrees with Wildners that the Koran should be banned. Wildner is the one attacking free speech."
    </p><p>No he isn't, you get it wrong. Geert Wilders did not say those books are the same books, nor did he say the Koran should be banned. Considering it is illegal in The Netherlands to reprint a copy of Mein Kampf  and access to available copies is restricted, Wilders questions why that's not the case with the Koran as well, since both books preach similar totalitarian ideologies on quite some essential aspects. He just points out the paradox which is present in a country with freedom of speech, where Mein Kampf is 'banned' and the Koran isn't. In The Netherlands you're allowed to compare any book with a fascist book (also Mein Kampf) as long as you have arguments why this can be the truth. As far as I know Dutch laws, the arguments don't even have to be valid, but I'm no lawyer so I might be wrong on that one, either way it does seem quite clear there are some obvious comparisons to be found between both books.
    </p><p><span> </span>"He also thinks that Islam should be classified as a terrorist religion?"
    </p><p>A terrorist religion, I think those are your words, but if Islam is practiced as commanded literally from the Koran one seems to have a good argument for using those. If Sharia law really is a part of Islam then one can easily find numerous examples why in that case Islam could be qualified as a terrorist religion. If the honor killings, stoning, whipping, cutting off limbs, flying planes into buildings, suicide bombings, beheadings.. are being done in the name of Allah, well then how would you qualify that?
    </p><p>"Free speech of course, but not free to spread hate, panic and the results that will follow. Teaching extremists the limits of free speech s something that applies to extremists on both sides - not just one!"
    </p><p>Instead of 'killing' the messenger, maybe you should redefine the extremists in your plea and rethink who actually spreads hate, panic, submission, threats, segregation, humiliation, suffering, mutilation and death?
    </p><p>By the way: if I understand it correctly, when Geert Wilders somehow would get convicted, he may face a maximum of one year in prison (not two years, as stated in the video) and/or a maximum fine of €8000,-.
    </p>

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  11. Geert wilders needs to be freed to carry on his work.geert I am a canadian but
    you sir speak to all of us.Keep fighting.i am your soldier.

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