Geert Wilders's speech at his trial today

[Warrior-Mentor]

Geert Wilders's speech at his trial today
English translation:

Mister Speaker, judges of the court,

I would like to make use of my right to speak for a few minutes.

Freedom is the most precious of all our attainments and the most vulnerable. People have devoted their lives to it and given their lives for it. Our freedom in this country is the outcome of centuries. It is the consequence of a history that knows no equal and has brought us to where we are now.

I believe with all my heart and soul that the freedom in the Netherlands is threatened. That what our heritage is, what generations could only dream about, that this freedom is no longer a given, no longer self-evident.

I devote my life to the defence of our freedom. I know what the risks are and I pay a price for it every day. I do not complain about it; it is my own decision. I see that as my duty and it is why I am standing here.

I know that the words I use are sometimes harsh, but they are never rash. It is not my intention to spare the ideology of conquest and destruction, but I am not any more out to offend people. I have nothing against Muslims. I have a problem with Islam and the Islamization of our country because Islam is at odds with freedom.

Future generations will wonder to themselves how we in 2010, in this place, in this room, earned our most precious attainment. Whether there is freedom in this debate for both parties and thus also for the critics of Islam, or that only one side of the discussion may be heard in the Netherlands? Whether freedom of speech in the Netherlands applies to everyone or only to a few? The answer to this is at once the answer to the question whether freedom still has a home in this country.

Freedom was never the property of a small group, but was always the heritage of us all. We are all blessed by it.

Lady Justice wears a blindfold, but she has splendid hearing. I hope that she hears the following sentences, loud and clear:

It is not only a right, but also the duty of free people to speak against every ideology that threatens freedom. Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States was right: The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

I hope that the freedom of speech shall triumph in this trial.

In conclusion, Mister Speaker, judges of the court.

This trial is obviously about the freedom of speech.But this trial is also about the process of establishing the truth.

Are the statements that I have made and the comparisons that I have taken, as cited in the summons, true?

If something is true then can it still be punishable?

This is why I urge you to not only submit to my request to hear witnesses and experts on the subject of freedom of speech. But I ask you explicitly to honour my request to hear witnesses and experts on the subject of Islam. I refer not only to Mister Jansen and Mister Admiraal, but also to the witness/experts from Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Without these witnesses, I cannot defend myself properly and, in my opinion, this would not be an fair trial.

SOURCE:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/01/ge...ial-today.html

[Warrior-Mentor]

Why I stand with Geert Wilders
Jan. 19, 2010
Daniel Pipes
THE JERUSALEM POST

Who is the most important European alive today?

I nominate the Dutch politician Geert Wilders. I do so because he is best placed to deal with the Islamic challenge facing the continent. He has the potential to emerge as a world-historical figure.

That Islamic challenge consists of two components: on the one hand, an indigenous population's withering Christian faith, inadequate birthrate and cultural diffidence, and on the other an influx of devout, prolific and culturally assertive Muslim immigrants. This fast-moving situation raises profound questions about Europe: Will it retain its historic civilization or become a majority-Muslim continent living under Islamic law (Shari'a)?

Wilders, 46, founder and head of the Party for Freedom (PVV), is the unrivaled leader of those Europeans who wish to retain their historic identity. That's because he and the PVV differ from most of Europe's other nationalist, anti-immigrant parties.

The PVV is libertarian and mainstream conservative, without roots in neo-Fascism, nativism, conspiricism, anti-Semitism or other forms of extremism. Wilders publicly emulates Ronald Reagan. Indicative of this moderation is Wilders's long-standing affection for Israel that includes two years' residence in the Jewish state, dozens of visits and his advocating the transfer of the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem.

In addition, Wilders is a charismatic, savvy, principled and outspoken leader who has rapidly become the most dynamic political force in the Netherlands. While he opines on the full range of topics, Islam and Muslims constitute his signature issue. Overcoming the tendency of Dutch politicians to play it safe, he calls Muhammad a devil and demands that Muslims "tear out half of the Koran if they wish to stay in the Netherlands." More broadly, he sees Islam itself as the problem, not just a virulent version of it called Islamism.

Finally, the PVV benefits from the fact that, uniquely in Europe, the Dutch are receptive to a non-nativist rejection of Shari'a. This first became apparent a decade ago, when Pim Fortuyn, a left-leaning, former communist, homosexual professor, began arguing that his values and lifestyle were irrevocably threatened by Shari'a. Fortuyn anticipated Wilders in founding his own political party and calling for a halt to Muslim immigration to the Netherlands. Following Fortuyn's 2002 assassination by a leftist, Wilders effectively inherited his mantle and his constituency.

THE PVV has done well electorally, winning 6 percent of the seats in the November 2006 national parliamentary elections and 16 percent of Dutch seats in the June 2009 European Union elections. Polls now generally show the PVV winning a plurality of votes and becoming the country's largest party. Were Wilders to become prime minister, he could take on a leadership role for all Europe.

But he faces daunting challenges.

The Netherlands' fractured political scene means the PVV must either find willing partners to form a governing coalition (a difficult task, given how leftists and Muslims have demonized Wilders as a "right-wing extremist") or win a majority of the seats in parliament (a distant prospect).

Wilders must also overcome his opponents' dirty tactics. Most notably, they have finally, after years of preliminary skirmishes, succeeded in dragging him to court on charges of hate speech and incitement to hatred. The public prosecutor's case against Wilders opens in Amsterdam on January 20; if convicted, Wilders faces a fine of up to $14,000 or as many as 16 months in jail.

Remember, he is his country's leading politician. Plus, due to threats against his life, he always travels with bodyguards and incessantly changes safe houses. Who exactly, one wonders, is the victim of incitement?

Although I disagree with Wilders about Islam (I respect the religion but fight Islamists with all I have), we stand shoulder-to-shoulder against the lawsuit. I reject the criminalization of political differences, particularly attempts to thwart a grassroots political movement via the courts. Accordingly, the Middle East Forum's Legal Project has worked on Wilders' behalf, raising substantial funds for his defense and helping in other ways. We do so convinced of the paramount importance to talk freely in public during time of war about the nature of the enemy.

Ironically, were Wilders fined or jailed, it would probably enhance his chances of becoming prime minister. But principle outweighs political tactics here. He represents all Westerners who cherish their civilization. The outcome of his trial and his freedom to speak has implications for us all.

The writer is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

SOURCE:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...ticle/ShowFull

[craigepo]

Damn. The guy tells the truth, and winds up standing trial.

He is charged with: 1) inciting discrimination and hatred; and 2) offending a group of people.

Thank God I was born in the U.S. The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights are the greatest freedom-protecting documents ever devised.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe...ers/index.html

[Richard]

Profile: Geert Wilders

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7314636.stm

Richard

[craigepo]

Also interesting: the prosecutors had decided to not prosecute Wilders, but the appellate courts overturned the prosecutors' decision(so the court is making the prosecutors prosecute). Luckily, wouldn't happen here.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5563071.ece

[Warrior-Mentor]

Hear from The Man himself...

VIDEO:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/03/55...t-wilders.html

[Green Light]

If Europe doesn't get its act together, not only will ethnic Europeans be a minority by the 2030s (IIRC), but their legal systems will be run by mullahs. True, Europe doesn't have all of the legal protections of the US, but the protections they now enjoy will disappear.

Women will immediately become either second class or non-citizens, religious freedoms (whether to belong to the religion of choice or not at all) will vanish, and harsh unreasonable retribution for minor crimes will be dealt out at the whim of a religious leader.

If we thought that the massive exterminations of WW2, Soviet Russia, Maoist China, or post-war Southeast Asia were horrendous, we ain't seen nothin' yet. These Islamists are barbarians of the first order and are bent on returning the entire world to the 7th century. And if we loose our European allies, who will stand with us?

[craigepo]

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archive...n_all_char.php

[greenberetTFS]

Geert Wilders, the prominent Dutch politician cleared of inciting hatred against Muslims over his campaign against Islam in public life, is a deeply divisive figure....Wilders not guilty on all charges.......

Big Teddy

[Wiseman]

That's good news but he will still have to wear a bullet proof vest for the rest of his life. Not a fun life, always looking over your shoulder.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Wiseman

That's good news but he will still have to wear a bullet proof vest for the rest of his life. Not a fun life, always looking over your shoulder.

Should he have remained silent, and watched a little more of our freedom and values slip away?

Is life and security to be more valued than freedom and justice?

TR

[Wiseman]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Should he have remained silent, and watched a little more of our freedom and values slip away?

Is life and security to be more valued than freedom and justice?

TR

I am pointing this out because people are celebrating his innocence in courts while the cultural battle still lies ahead. I'm not saying that what he did was not worth it in the long run, I just hope he invested in some security because somewhere some cleric in Europe will want some sort of "justice" and it usually comes out in the form of violence as I'm sure you remember what simple cartoon can do.