Category Archives: Netherlands

Protestors outnumber attendees at Wilders lecture in Malmö

Posted on by Bob Pitt
Malmö anti-Wilders protest

Anti-racists demonstrate against Wilders in Malmö

While protesters outnumbered those attending a speech by controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders in Malmö in southern Sweden on Saturday, the event passed off without incident.

“Our intelligence told us that we should be prepared for trouble,” a Malmö police officer told The Local. But at the end of the event a colleague assured The Local that the day “had passed without incident with just minor disturbances”.

The frequent critic of Islam was a guest of the anti-Islam Swedish “Freedom of the Press Society” (Tryckfrihetssällskapet) and addressed an audience of approximately 100 people at a venue in Malmö’s western harbour. Outside a crowd of around 300 gathered to protest at the presence of the leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom.

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Dutch foreign ministry puts pressure on Australian government to grant visa for Wilders

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Geert Wilders thinkingThe Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted the Australian authorities over the visa application by Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders.

It is unclear why the visa has not yet been granted. The anti-Islam politician applied for a visa three weeks ago in order to give a series of lectures next month. The employees who would accompany him have already received their visas and the group which invited Wilders to Australia has accused the government of stalling over his application.

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Australia: Senate rejects Greens motion condemning Wilders’ ‘hateful anti-Muslim views’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Richard Di NataleThe Senate has rejected a Greens motion calling on parliament to condemn the “hateful anti-Muslim views” of controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who is seeking an Australian visa for a speaking tour.

Greens senator Richard Di Natale [pictured] said on Thursday it was “critically important” his motion be supported, particularly after last week’s protests in Sydney by members of the Muslim community angry about a US film on Islam.

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Wilders wants visa to speak in Australia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Geert Wilders, who has compared the Koran to Hitler’s Mein Kampf, has been invited by the Q Society to give speeches in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Federal Government has not yet made a decision but Multicultural Affairs Minister Kate Lundy described Mr Wilders as “an extreme-right politician promulgating views that are out of step with mainstream Australia”.

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Study of Islamophobia in the Netherlands now available in translation

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Islamophobia in the NetherlandsSince 11 September 2001 – and especially since the murder of Theo van Gogh – Muslims and Islam have frequently been unfavourably portrayed at the heart of public debate.

Manifestations of Islamophobia can be found on the Internet, in comments by the PVV, and in acts of violence committed against mosques. Dutch anti-discrimination policies are coming under pressure now that this ideology has forced its way to the centre of the political stage.

How do negative connotations about Muslims come about? Where are the acts of violence taking place? Is the Netherlands the front line in the ‘clash of civilisations’, as has been claimed by politicians, opinion formers and others in the international arena? Or is it all about an exclusion mechanism?

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U.S. groups helped fund Dutch anti-Islam politician Wilders

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Pipes and WildersAnti-Islam groups in America have provided financial support to Dutch politician Geert Wilders, an anti-immigration campaigner who is seeking re-election to the Dutch parliament this week.

While this is not illegal in the Netherlands, it sheds light on the international connections of Wilders, whose Freedom Party is the least transparent Dutch parliamentary group and a rallying point for Europe’s far right.

Wilders’ party is self-funded, unlike other Dutch parties that are subsidized by the government. It does not, therefore, have to meet the same disclosure requirements.

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CD cover that features Hitler, Breivik and Wilders is destroyed by printer

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Normaal CD coverA booklet to accompany the new CD by popular “farmers rock” band Normaal has been destroyed by its German printers because it features a swastika, Nos television reports.

The public showing of swastikas is banned in Germany, apart from for scholarly reasons.

The printer did not check the digital version of the cover and it was only noticed after a couple of thousand were printed, Maarten Steinkamp, director of Normaal’s record label CNR told the Nos.

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Bill Maher defends Geert Wilders, claims ‘moderate Muslims’ advocate violence

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Colorado Springs Independent has an interview with US talk show host Bill Maher. He is asked why he featured Geert Wilders in his religion-mocking film Religulous – “wouldn’t your hatred for racist xenophobes trump your hatred of religion?” Maher replies that he sees no contradiction:

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‘Henk and Ingrid’ turn out to be violent racists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

As the Netherlands heads for a general election, barely a day passes without a mention of “Henk and Ingrid“, or Mr and Mrs Average, in a political debate that has revolved around the economy and the euro zone debt crisis.

The invention of populist politician Geert Wilders – who heads the anti-immigration, anti-euro Freedom Party – this mythical couple attracted a different kind of notoriety after a real Dutch Henk, with a wife called Ingrid, killed a Turkish immigrant, prompting commentators to warn that populism can backfire.

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