DUTCH RESPONSE TO GEERT WILDERS SUPPORTER
I received this letter from the Dutch Consulate which was in response to my letter protesting the prosecution of Geert Wilders. I thought it appropriate to share with my readers who care about this issue
attention for the following.
prosecution of Mr. Geert Wilders, Member of the Dutch Parliament, for
inciting hatred and discrimination based on his statements in various
media about Islam. Various people and organisations had asked for his
prosecution. In June 2008, the Public Prosecutor had determined that his
statements were not against the law and had dropped the case, but the
plaintiffs appealed this decision before the Court of Appeal.
were a punishable insult to Islamic worshippers and therefore
constituted ground for criminal prosecution. The Court of Appeal did not
convict Mr. Wilders of a crime, but ordered the Public Prosecutor to
start a criminal procedure against him before the District Court of
Amsterdam.
On January 13th, the District Court in Amsterdam dismissed a motion made
by Mr. Wilders to limit the charges against him. The Court ruled that
the indictment was in line with the decision of the Court of Appeal and
that there were no new facts that would give reason to limit the scope
of the indictment. On January 20th, the District Court in Amsterdam will
start the proceedings in the case. Ultimately, it will decide whether or
not Mr Wilders has committed a criminal offense.
The Court of Appeal and the District Court are fully independent from
the Dutch government. As the procedure is ongoing, any further comment
by the Netherlands government on the case itself would be inappropriate.
Mr. Wilders is a member of parliament and continues his work while the
case goes through the legal process.
Sincerely,
Arend C. Gouw
Consul
Consulate General of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands
701 Brickell Ave. Suite 500
Miami, FL 33131
Tel. (001) 786 866 0482
Fax (001) 786 866 0498
Mail: ac.gouw@minbuza.nl
This was my brief response to his letter:
Thank you Mr. Geow, for your thoughtful response. As an American who relishes the freedom of speech as provided in our constitution, I still find it appalling that Mr. Wilders would have to face criminal charges for expressing his opinions…which, incidentally, millions agree with. To the rest of the world, it appears more clear that the Dutch authorities are capitulating to the demands of radical Islamists in order to pacify.
Thank you again. I will post your reply on my blog site… for readers to make their own judgement.
Marshall Frank
Unbelievable. I think he will not be convicted of anything.
Thank God we live in the USA!!!
Marshall – I feel secure that I will be protected by the First Amendment. I’m too old to stop speaking as I choose.
I guess I should be thankful for the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. I probably won’t be indicted in the U.S. when I caution people I know to pay attention to the creeping advance of radical Islam right here. It is reported on less than I feel it should be. All that most of can do is be vigilant and share what we learn with those who will share with us.
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This entire matter is unbelievable. I have written to this man you received a response from and to all of the other consul’s I could find address for expressing my thoughts on this action.
If the Dutch Government allows this to proceed, where will that place them in the stance for freedom? Unbelievable actions on behalf of the judicial part of the Dutch government.
Astonishing!!! Just astonishing that the Dutch government will even allow this to go forward. Sad day for the Dutch!
I’m just going to stay out of this thing with the Dutch government. I spend all the time I can afford on the subject under discussion just keeping our own government and court systems straight. I’m going to let the Dutch take care of the Dutch.
If they — the Dutch government or the Dutch people — have any serious question to put to me, I will give them a straight answer. And that is all.
I have always thought that nazi-ism was the epitome of evil. If fanatic Islamists are
not to be equated with the nazis, they are surely a very close second.
I’ve got something to say which isn’t very pc.
To any of those islamists who want to come into my home I’m hoping they kick-in my front door to “talk”.
I bought a 12ga. riot gun today!
You can’t tell me the courts in the Netherlands, or here, are not politically controled.
We must remember the actions of the freedom loving Dutch the next time they get into trouble and dial 872 (USA) for help.
Hope Consul Gouw has memorized the magic words that will save his a**–”There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger.” If he can say them three times before his loses his head he’ll be okay.
I think this is an outrage! To think that the Muslims feel they have the right of freedom of speech to enter any country they choose and claim that they can and are going to take over the country (as they are in our US), criticizing that country’s way of government and any freedom of religion they have, but the citizens of the country lose their freedom to criticise? And the Dutch Court of Appeals wants to play nice with them! Or has the fear grown that great? Otherwise why aren’t the citizens standing up supporting Mr. Wilders?
How long will it be before Islam rules?
Every country is seemingly held as a hostage to their outrageous requests for equality while they themselves offer none.
It is time these fanatical bastards were brought under control. It is time America wakes up and start to take this situation serious. If this is allowed to continue, then all the people of the free world may as well bow-down and take what is coming to them. I, for one, am willing to take a stand and fight to bring this Islamic farce to a stop. Not a single one of these people are our friends, regardless of what they claim. If anyone is practicing the Islamic faith, then they are the enemy of all Christians…and should be dealt with accordingly….and this means eliminating them like the mad dogs they are.
The Netherlands has an independent judiciary but like most countries in the west (except the U.S.) “speech” has constraints. Actions for libel and slander are regularly adjudicated in such countries. Memories of Nazi occupation in which “hate speech” were instruments of policy are not forgotten there.
The key point is that a well financed and assertive group of plaintiffs are driving this case. The financing and management of this “plaintiff group” should be the focus of the expressed concerns and outrage–not the Dutch government.
To Gladys: Re your words: “I have always thought that nazi-ism was the epitome of evil. If fanatic Islamists are not to be equated with the nazis, they are surely a very close second.”
Yes well said. I agree but more than you know.
The “Fanatic Hitler” was determined to eradicate mainly the JEWS. His bootlicking followers of course had to agree. So it was the bad side of human nature that slowly but surely became the cause, that it was normal to despise the Jews. Humans have bad instincts but common sense will prevail and this abominable hate for the Jews was recognized as a bad thing and most Germans have long ago discarded this opinion.
There was one thing about the Nazis: Germany became was prosperous. But Hitler was “crazy” and that was their downfall.
Because of the equality issue between Islam Men and Women, the Muslims have done very little to improve their countries. (It took tiny little Israel to create a jewel amongst the rubbish.)
The Fanatic Muslim is determined to eradicate ALL that is not Muslim.
I can mention more, but I think they much MORE dangerous that “those Nazis”. And not “a very close second” and… they are NOT crazy!
Or is it Political Correctness? Not only in The Netherlands, but HERE in the USA