We’re not. In Holland, fortunately, we don’t have many racists. The Dutch are a very tolerant people. We have no problem to be tolerant of the tolerant, but we should be intolerant of the intolerant.
'The trial of Dutch politician Geert Wilders has been altogether an extraordinary event. He is accused of saying rude and even hateful things about Islam, the prophet Mohammed, and the Koran — and people are not supposed to talk like that, in public at least. The case against him appears to be coming undone: Prosecutors have requested that the charges be dropped, but the final decision remains in the hands of the court. A great deal turns on the outcome of this case, for the Netherlands, for Europe, and — not least — for the Muslim world.
Free speech is indispensable in a free society, and many a great man has fought for that principle, some of them going to prison for it. It is a longstanding if hard-won principle in the West that Wilders has a fundamental right to make whatever comment he likes about Islam, its prophet, or its scriptures, and so do all of us. To the extent that Dutch law contradicts that principle, it contradicts what is best in Europe’s heritage.
Furthermore, Wilders is an elected parliamentarian, leader of the third-largest party in his country. Public figures not only have a right to speak out, but a duty...
The Wilders trial has also to be seen in the international context. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) purports to represent, and speak for, all Muslim countries. This body is now campaigning in various forums, including the United Nations, to criminalize all criticism of Islam. Any such privileging of Islam would block all possibility of reform and condemn Muslims to perpetual intellectual stagnation. Freedom of expression for Wilders also means freedom of expression for Muslims.
It is retrograde and shameful that a Dutch court should now be aligned with the OIC in the business of making criticism of Islam punishable by law. And highly dangerous, too.'
Video-link inside. Australians now have a choice of many news services from all over the world via the internet. Many countries broadcast in English. Iranian television on-line has a continuous on-line news broadcast service in English and conducts some very topical and vivid debates. Tonight Shabbir R. Hassanally, activist and Islamic scholar in London debated Lawrence J.Korb, former US assistant secretary of defense from Washington, on the subject of who benefits from sowing the seeds of division among Muslims. The role of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States vis a vis ISIS are questioned. The whole notion of 'Sunni-Shia' division is challenged. Female presenter, Kaneez Fatima, comperes. Well worth listening to if you want to hear the other side of what is served up by the ABC and SBS on the wars we support in the Middle East.
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