Geert Wilders

Geert Wilders is a member of the Dutch parliament and the head of its third largest party. He is also currently standing trial in Amsterdam for the crime of "offending Islam."

Wilders is an outspoken critic of what he sees as a threat to Holland's tolerant culture. In 2008, he released a documentary film called Fitna (Arabic for "strife"), which juxtaposed violent passages from the Qur'an with footage of Islamist terrorism. Soon after the film's release, a radical Dutch imam who appeared in it sued Wilders for "hurt feelings," claiming 55,000 euros in damages. Meanwhile, the Jordanian government has requested that Holland extradite Wilders to stand trial for blasphemy, a capital offense under Islamic (Shari'a) law.

Often portrayed as "far-right" and "extremist," Wilders is neither. Lacking the ideological baggage that has saddled many of his nationalist and anti-immigration contemporaries in Europe, Wilders has succeeded in tapping into genuine concerns surrounding his country's Muslim minority without appealing to nativist, neo-fascist, or anti-Semitic sentiments. Yet, despite being one of Holland's leading and most popular politicians, Wilders has been subjected to a full-on assault by those who wish to criminalize legitimate political debate in the name of multiculturalism and political correctness.

Unfortunately, his opponents have met with increasing success. The public prosecutor's office initially declined to charge Wilders, characterizing his film and other public statements as a contribution to the public discourse on Islam. However, in 2009, his opponents, convinced an Amsterdam Court of Appeals to order Wilders' prosecution for "incitement to hatred and discrimination" and for "insulting Muslim worshippers."

One month later, British officials succumbed to Islamist pressure and denied Wilders entry into the United Kingdom, deeming him "a threat to the public order and public harmony." The politically-motivated ban has since been scrapped, but Wilders faces larger problems back home: should a Dutch court convict him, he could be sentenced to up to 16 months in prison.

In June 2010, his Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid, PVV), a libertarian and mainstream conservative party he founded in 2004, won 24 of the 150 seats in the Dutch legislature—an enormous feat given that the PVV is the only party in Holland to refuse state subsidies. In July 2010, Wilders was nominated for the European Parliament's 2010 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Although the Legal Project does not endorse Wilders' views on Islam (e.g., we distinguish between Islamists and moderates), we believe differences in political opinion must never be put on trial.

Accordingly, the 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 of talking freely in public during time of war about the nature of the enemy.

Further Reading

Mark Steyn – "The Absurd Trial of Geert Wilders" – How the Netherlands is de-legitimizing itself by prosecuting Geert Wilders' political platform.

Bret Stephens – "Geert Wilders Is a Test for Western Civilization" – Why, irrespective of his politics, Geert Wilders should be defended against charges of hate speech.

Leon De Winter – "Stop the Trial of Geert Wilders" – A Dutch novelist's take on the prosecution of Geert Wilders.

Daniel Pipes – "Why I Stand with Geert Wilders" – A look at the implications of Geert Wilders' trial for free speech rights and Europe's future.

Links

Wilders On Trial – Information and news about Geert Wilders' ongoing trial.

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