Posted by: zanshin, 2009-01-26 02:07

Story

Silencing Islam's Critics
2009-01-22 (Thursday), WSJ
A Dutch court imports Saudi blasphemy norms to Europe.


The latest twist in the clash between Western values and the Muslim world took place yesterday in the Netherlands, where a court ordered the prosecution of lawmaker and provocateur Geert Wilders for inciting violence. The Dutch MP and leader of the Freedom Party, which opposes Muslim immigration into Holland, will stand trial soon for his harsh criticism of Islam.

Mr. Wilders made world news last year with the short film "Fitna." In the 15-minute video, he juxtaposes Koranic verses calling for jihad with clips of Islamic hate preachers and terror attacks. He has compared the Koran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and urged Muslims to tear out "hate-filled" verses from their scripture. This is a frontal assault on Islam -- but, as Mr. Wilders points out, he's targeting the religion, not its followers. "Fitna," in fact, sparked a refreshing debate between moderate Muslims and non-Muslims in the Netherlands, and beyond.

There are of course limits to free speech, such as calls for violence. But one doesn't need to agree with Mr. Wilders to acknowledge that he hasn't crossed that line. Some Muslims say they are outraged by his statements. But if freedom of speech means anything, it means the freedom of controversial speech. Consensus views need no protection.

This is exactly what Dutch prosecutors said in June when they rejected the complaints against Mr. Wilders. "That comments are hurtful and offensive for a large number of Muslims does not mean that they are punishable," the prosecutors said in a statement. "Freedom of expression fulfills an essential role in public debate in a democratic society. That means that offensive comments can be made in a political debate."

The court yesterday overruled this decision, arguing that the lawmaker should be prosecuted for "inciting hatred and discrimination" and also "for insulting Muslim worshippers because of comparisons between Islam and Nazism." This is no small victory for Islamic regimes seeking to export their censorship laws to wherever Muslims reside. But the successful integration of Muslims in Europe will require that immigrants adapt to Western norms, not vice versa. Limiting the Dutch debate of Islam to standards acceptable in, say, Saudi Arabia, will only shore up support for Mr. Wilders's argument that Muslim immigration is eroding traditional Dutch liberties.

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Tags

9/11,   democracy,   Demography,   Eurabia,   Europe,   Geert Wilders,   Hitler,   Human Rights,   Immigration,   Integration,   Internet,   Islam,   Jihad,   Koran,   Muslims,   Netherlands,   Open-Ended Issues,   religion,   Saudi Arabia,  

Related statements

Date  
2009-01-22 Mr. Wilders also claims that Muslims can't take part in Western society as long as they adhere to the Qu'ran and have to tear out at least half of its pages for it to be acceptable in Western society. The court now indicated that even a politician can't exclude groups of people from society based solely on their religious beliefs.
-- One of the court points according to Herman van Voorn in WSJ Forum
2009-01-22 Mr. Wilders claims that all of Islam is radical and that every Muslim is a potential terrorist. The court indicates that by deliberately and constantly blurring the line between extremists and moderates, mr. Wilders entices hate against all Muslims in the Netherlands.
-- One of the court points according to Herman van Voorn in WSJ Forum
2009-01-22 Mr. Wilders claims to criticize Islam and especially the violent verses of the Qu'ran, but he also wants to close the borders to Muslim immigrants. The court now indicated that one doesn't close the borders to books or faiths but to people.
-- One of the court points according to Herman van Voorn in WSJ Forum
2009-01-22 The appeals court is introducing Saudi Arabian legal standards to the Netherlands
-- According to Wall Street Journal
2009-01-21 According to the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam
"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 also considers appropriate criminal prosecution for insulting Muslim worshippers because of comparisons between Islam and Nazism made by Wilders.
In a democratic system, hate speech is considered so serious that it is in the general interest to... draw a clear line."
-- According to the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam
2008-06 "That comments are hurtful and offensive for a large number of Muslims does not mean that they are punishable.
Freedom of expression fulfills an essential role in public debate in a democratic society. That means that offensive comments can be made in a political debate."
-- Dutch prosecutors, in a statement when they rejected the complaints against Geert Wilders
2008-03-27 Geert Wilders published Fitna
In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders published on the Internet his highly charged and much-anticipated anti-Koran 17-minute film titled “Fitna”, Arabic for civil strife.

The first 10 minutes of the film consist of a compilation of video fragments showing the victims of terrorist attacks in New York, Madrid and London. This is interspersed with translations of verses from the Koran and recordings of Islamic leaders calling for violence against non-believers.

In the last five minutes, Wilders focuses on Islam in the Netherlands. There are images of blocks of flats dotted with satellite dishes, policemen removing their shoes before entering a mosque, recordings of preaching and a selection of newspaper headlines.
The Amsterdam appeals court objects strongly to mr. Wilders' unfounded comparison of Islam to Nazism and of his equation of the Qu'ran to Hitlers 'Mein Kampf'.
-- -- One of the court points according to Herman van Voorn in WSJ Forum
There is much argument within the Netherlands wether Geert Wilders crossed the line
The Dutch prosecutors decision (in june 2008) not to prosecute Geert Wilders was a political one.
Muslim immigration is eroding traditional Dutch liberties
-- According to Geert Wilders
Freedom of speech means the freedom of controversial speech.
Consensus views need no protection.
Some Muslims say they are outraged by the statements of Geert Wilders.
Geert Wilders has not called for violence.
Free speech does not allow calls for violence.
There are limits to free speech.
Geert Wilders targets Islam the religion, not its followers.
Geert Wilders has urged Muslims to tear out "hate-filled" verses from their scripture [Koran, etc.].
Geert Wilders has compared the Koran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf".
For instance, in his movie Fitna.
Geert Wilders has uttered harsh criticism of Islam.
Should Geert Wilders stand trial for his harsh criticism of Islam ?
Should Geert Wilders stand trial for his harsh criticism of Islam ?

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