Warnings from Holland
In 2008, Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, made a movie documenting the practice of Islam around the world and the changes that have come to Europe. If you have not seen it, his movie, Fitna, can be seen on the front page of this website, No to Islam.
Although Mr Wilders does not hate Moslems or any race, his life has been threatened with many death threats and the Dutch government has now put him on trial for hate speech and racism.
Here is a short report on the case:
Here is a translation of the comments Geert Wilders made on January 20 at the opening of his trial.
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.
I hope that the Netherlands recovers its traditional love for Western civilization with which Islam is not compatable, as Mr Wilders says, and that he is given a fair and open trial. But the fact that he is on trial at all for merely speaking the truth, pointing to truths that his government hides, is a stark warning to America. How long will we have free speech here when we have a President that says:
"It is important for westren countries to avoid impeding moslem citizens from practicing their religion as they see fit, and I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."
More from the Dutch:
Freedom Series, The Netherlands: We want to express our nightmare to the World
Protesters at Gert Wilders Trial
