Geert Wilders Gets a Wake-Up Call

MP Geert Wilders had a 3 hour "tutorial" with the National Coordinator for Anti-terrorism Tjibbe Joustra. He was shown documentary evidence of the reaction his comments have caused in Arab nations.

Mr. Wilders famously said that "Muslims should tear out and discard half the Koran if they want to live in the Netherlands", and this was the strongest trigger for many Arab nations who went on to threaten reaction including trade bans with the Netherlands and recall of ambassadors.

"Fortunately none of that happened, but you do get a fright when you see all of that," Wilders said.

In this country he has a right to state his opinion, and however much I disagree with him I have to uphold that right. The constitution also protects religious expression so there is no question that Muslims here may use the full version of the Koran and practise their faith freely.

However I really hope that he understands that he represents the Netherlands by virtue of his position. I hope he learns to frame his opinions with more thought.

Split Loyalty Still an Issue

Geert Wilders seems to have nothing better to do than attack Muslim MPs. This week it was the turn of Khadija Arib, who has been a member of the Dutch parliament since May 1998, and acts as a paid advisor to the Moroccan government on human rights issues, particularly those relating to Moroccan migrants.

Mr Wilders demanded that she either give up the paid position for a foreign government or give up her position of MP.

If Mr. Wilders is really interesting in a healthy integrated Dutch society he should applaud Ms Arib's work, if he's really worried about split loyalty because an MP has a paid function with another government he should be condemning Mr. Van Baalen, who has a paid consultant position with the Taiwan government, with the same energy that he condemns Khadija Arib.

A fuller report on the debate was published by the Dutchnews website, and it seems clear that other Dutch MPs are frustrated by Mr. Wilders attacks.

I suppose in a way it's better to have the debate, but it is funded by my taxes, and I resent paying for Mr. Wilders to promote his own Islamophobic views.

In any case, since I can't vote I have written a letter of support to Ms Arib. I want her to know that someone far removed from the situation values both roles she plays.

Back to the Burqa

The issue of a burqa ban has reared its ugly head again.

Apparently Geert Wilders sees this as a vital issue. Mr Wilders lost a discussion last week on members of parliament having dual nationality, and was publically chastised by the leader of the house who commented that she expected MP's to treat each other with respect.

But now his party want to raise the issue of wearing Burqas in public, he points out that "a majority in Parliament has twice urged the cabinet in motions he initiated to arrange a complete ban on wearing burqas in public." Which is true, however that was before the last election.

Wilders party, the Partij voor Vrijheid (Freedom Party) did win 9 seats. Apparently there is a sector of Dutch society that supports these devisive policies. So we are set for more heated parliamentary discussions; I'm all for free speech, but given that I can't vote it's frustrating that my taxes are paying for Mr Wilder's grandstanding.

Those Unfunny Cartoons

A Dutch politician published the cartoons on his website. He had 40 death threats after he did it.

Now which ever side of the argument you're on philosophically this was a predictable outcome.

So logically he's prepared to die for the right of a newspaper he never reads to publish cartoons about a faith he doesn't follow, in a language he doesn't understand.