The more I read this Wilders's news , the more I wonder , if they have psychiatrists in the Netherlands,,, For God's sake,, treat this guy, instead of making more fool of himself....lol

By Zoser | September 14, 2009 11:36 AM

Wilder's is going way to far in accusing Obama of being "dangerous, naive and irresponsible".

So far, most world politicians have had a "wait-and-see" attitude towards Wilder's, in the hope that he would just go away. It's time everyone, politicians and world citizens, to stand up and denounce Wilder's.

By Quest | September 14, 2009 12:12 PM

the government cuts medical health spending...even when Wilders is still around......at least they are not wasting it on him!!

By Der!! | September 14, 2009 3:53 PM

He is doing all this to get publicity. Too bad that no other politician is speaking against his lies. Nederlands is vol? Have a look at the following link:

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/410-manifest-density-three-dutch-megacities/

By bimalesh | September 14, 2009 3:56 PM

Wilders is one of the top comedians I have ever seen.. someday he will turn his hair into original and will confess that he has done all this actions to show, how a nation can easily be fooled and thousands of people could follow even such a low profile loser.

By Oz | September 14, 2009 4:01 PM

Does this mean that you do not have freedom of speech in the Netherlands? Surely you cannot mean that someone can be prosecuted for saying unpleasant things in public? If this is so, do you not find this terrifying and constricting? America has a great many problems, of course, but we take great pride in being free to say whatever we like, even if it's crazy.

By Kathleen | September 15, 2009 1:56 AM

The question is who is the puppeteer that is playing the puppet (Wilders)??? Wilder is just a dummy nothing ells whoever the puppeteer is not cleverer than the puppet in this show.

By Al | September 15, 2009 5:06 AM

What is the meaning of putting Islam to trial? It is not a legal entity which you can sue isn't it? Perhaps it's more of putting extremist Muslims to trial for something extreme they did?

By Linlita | September 15, 2009 5:18 AM

The republicans have said far worse about Obama so they aren´t exactly showing a good example to other Western politicians while behaving like poor sports because they lost the elections.

By sandra | September 15, 2009 6:23 AM

Kathleen - we have all seen the outcome of people being able to say whatever they like in the US: racial hatred, misinformation and lies that are treated by the uneducated and narrow-minded as reality, and the proliferation of legitimate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. And the US wonders why not everyone wants to be like them ...

By Brian | September 15, 2009 11:17 AM

Mr.Geert Wilders have nothing to say about ever increasing poverty due to the recent financial crisis, he do not talk about the social-economic crisis being faced by the majority of our country fellows, he don't want to comment on the problems being faced by the Dutch Public but spends his time on Islam Bashing and blaming the Muslims living here for all the problems.

Mr.Wilders let me claim that by practising populist politics and slogans you are not doing any service to the motherland or the sons and daughters of the soil at all.

Instead you are working hard to disrupt the peace in our society, creating doubts and hatred among us!!

Its not Islam which should be brought on Trial but Its You who should face an 'open trial in the open courts of the Dutch Public' and I am sure you will loose, because overwhelming majority of our country they reject your 'opportunistic politics', as they are one of the most loving and decent nation on this earth. This I claim in the light of my personal experiences.

You blame President Barak Hussain Obama saying " he is closing his eyes to the great dangers of Islamisation", Dear Geert Wilders its not the President of the United States who is closing his eyes but its you my dear country fellow, that just to increase your votes you are spreading fear and misunderstandings within our communities,which is the most dangerous act of yours,its not the American Administration pursuing naive and irresponsible policies but you who is not willing to use his positive energy (I am sure you have) to develop positive environment in our country.

For God Sake, learn the lessons out of the history, all those who adopted the path of populism (against Jews,Muslims,Christians and other ethnic minorities) were responsible of holocaust,genocide,bloodshed,suicidal acts,and total destruction of the human societies. Please let the followers of the Abrahamic Religion under harmony and respect.

Why don't you make a U TURN and behave like a brave man saying " Yes I was wrong but from now on I will play a positive and constructive role in this country so that we all can live with peace and harmony and serve our Netherlands as law abiding citizens for the stability and security of not only our own nation but for the whole world fighting collectively against Poverty and Injustices.

By Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | September 15, 2009 11:54 AM

This is EXCELLENT news for us. The court date has been set just 2 months before municipal elections. It promises to be a sensational case that will boost the PVV's lagging polls as ordinary Dutchmen see one of their own going to prison for practicing centuries-old freedom of speech. It is a powerful, sobering demonstration of the fact that Wilders's warnings are far from some conspiracy theory. We can be almost certain there will be more PVV members in the House of Representatives by then. Another thing some people seem to have forgotten is that trials like these can go on for ages--the trial of Austrian Susanne Winter on these same trumped-up charges took over a year--and Dutch NATIONAL elections are set for 2011. News that Wilders was going on trial a year ago made the PVV the third largest opposition party--now a guilty verdict, hefty fine, or jail sentence will all spell out an explosion of support for Wilders. This means that as the trial nears its close, the PVV can form a coalition with TON or others and win. Even if Wilders goes to jail, his party and his views will reach the center of power. They're going to wish they had dismissed these nonsense, politically motivated, cowardly charges against him when he was still not a threat.

By Jack Worthing | September 15, 2009 1:45 PM

Khalid Ahmed Chaudry, I hope too that we one day can live in peace without certain people turning a whole society against one group of people because of their religion or ethnic background. Some people enjoy watching others suffer because they feel superior with their small mindedness in this tiny country where nobody else pays attention to them because they are not so important to the bigger western countries. With their wounded egos, they feel powerful to bully the minority of a population by attacking their religion and at times, their ethnic background. This is the same way the jews got treated by the Nazis and the Dutch who turned a blind eye, some even supported the Nazis but later blamed all on the Germans to escape blame. This is not a demacractic country at all. There is no freedom to religion or to expression in this country when it is only one sided. I think the USA, Canada and other countries outside of EU should finally shut the Netherlands and other EU countries who follow Netherlands laws and hate politics right out of Nato and Nafta once and for all. As Jew, I am ashamed and fed up of this country and want to leave for good!

By sandra | September 15, 2009 2:21 PM

Brian,
That's exactly the point. One of our foundational quotes is, "I may disagree with WHAT you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Spoken by Patrick Henry in the late 18th century. Freedom means freedom, even if what it is used for turns out to be unpleasant. You either have free speech, with all the errors that implies, or you have government control of what may be said. That is a terrifying prospect.

By Kathleen | September 15, 2009 4:38 PM

Kathleen, I can not disagree with you about the freedom of expression and I my self would certainly "defend the freedom of expression", but will not defend those who are intentionally willing to spread hatred and narrow vision, May they be Muslims,Christians,Jews or Atheists.

Don't you think there have been 'enough bloodshed' on this earth, can't we learn lessons out of our recent history when nationalism forced millions of innocent Jews to face death in the gas chambers? The Jews and Muslims killing each other in the middle east, massacre of millions in the African Continent and many more horrifying acts due to the politics of hate and opportunism?

What ever Mr.Geert Wilders is doing its not an exercise of freedom of expression but crossing the limits to hurt the hearts and minds of millions of people around the globe!

Sandra, You really deserve admiration and appreciations because of the horizon of your views and comments. You have been always very very positive and kind.
You are indeed a Global Citizen who lives with extremely higher moral values and I am sure Kathleen and many others in our country as well. To be very honest my heart started bleeding when I was reading your intentions to leave Netherlands for good due to the 'environment',I wish you could change your plans to stay and face the realities and fight the narrow vision!!

By Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | September 15, 2009 8:42 PM

wilder,don mess ith Obama,that willl be the last thing you will do,be carefull with our president,wilder is the biggse drug user in netherland,

By rafael osorio | September 15, 2009 9:34 PM

I do not know Geert Wilders personally, so I will withhold judgement. But I am wondering if he is possibly the only political voice in the Netherlands who has the balls to say what needs to be said.

Personally, I am highly suspicious of the teachings of Islam. The Quoran is a mish-mash of all kinds of teachings that is often confusing and incoherent. The book is poorly organized and contains much that is diametrically opposed to Biblical and western held values. Since 9/11, I have had a great interest in this religion and its practitioners. I am not so much fearful of the ordinary Muslim, who prays five times a day, fasts during Ramadan and occasionally reads his/her Koran. A lot of them probably aren't all that involved in their faith other than doing the obvious things that are required of them.

But there is an edge to Islam that is very worrying. The Islamic religion is definitely not based on the concept of love. And the militant people who promote that edge, like the Wahhabis in Saudy Arabia, have both the willingness and the funds to promote their particular agenda. According to Wikipedia, "It has developed considerable influence in the Muslim world through the funding of mosques, schools and other means from Persian Gulf oil wealth." And in the West as well, I should say. And these people shrink back at nothing.

You really have to watch a bit of the video available on MEMRI-TV or see what is going on in Muslim countries like Iran and Saudi-Arabia in order to get a feel for this. Remember what was happening (and still is) in Afghanistan when the Taliban were in charge? And there is lots of information available about the oppression Muslim women are constantly facing. The draconian Islamic Sharia laws are nothing to be excited about either. God (Yahweh, NOT the same as Allah) help us if we should ever be ruled by Sharia law in the West. Free speech, so much touted in this forum, would be out the door. I recently read "Infidel", the book authored by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and I am not impressed with what she experienced as a Muslim. I believe her life is still in danger. And so are those of many others who have had a fatwa pronouncing a death sentence issued against them.

From what I have personally heard and seen on varying TV programs that showed debates between Muslim with non-Muslism (or even Muslims amongst themselves), I am not greatly encouraged to think that having Sharia law implemented in a Western country could be considered to be a great leap ahead, but more like back to the Middle-Ages or worse. We need to be very watchful and oppose any takeover by this backward religious development.

And I agree with Geert Wilders on this point - Obama is not helping the situation by lulling people to sleep. But, what else can he do? Perhaps, he is only referring to the ordinary, non-dangerous Muslims. But they are not the ones we need to worry about.

By KenM | September 16, 2009 12:00 AM

Khalid Ahmed Chaudry, Thank you for your kind words.

By sandra | September 16, 2009 7:11 AM

This man has done no wrong. Criticising a religion is not an offence and in any case his words are moderate compared to the words of the radical imams who call for the death of infidels and the overthrow of Western values and governments. Good luck Geert, you remind me of Winston Churchill in your stance against this facist ideology

By Simon Kingsway | September 16, 2009 8:20 AM

Freedom of speech and freedom of expression does not give a person the right to do things that are detrimental to society as a whole. When people have a problem conducting themselves in a proper manner — they have to be reigned in. Insulting ones religion and ethnic background is insulting and an abusive form of so called freedom of speech. Beside that fact, what good does freedom of speech do to this society when it is only one sided? What happend to freedom of religious beliefs? That goes along with freedom of speech which this country Confuses itself with/ It appears that Holland has hypocritical double standards. Speaking of such, I will repete what I said earlier that I hope the USA, and Canada wake up and boycott the Netherlands,also throw the Netherlands out of Nato and Nafta and other EU countries who practice this far right hate spreading, so long as they keep violating human rights and discriminating against certain groups of people, there should be a boycott against countries such as the Netherlands. Nobody should be discriminated against because of their religion or ethinic backgrond. It should never be tolerated.

By sandra | September 16, 2009 11:02 AM

Islamophobia kills people.
Remember Marwa el-Sherbini.
Geert Wilders' hatred for Islam will kill people as well.

By Rtype | September 16, 2009 1:09 PM

KenM

After reading your comments I have nothing but 'Only Positive Image' of yours. Unfortunately We The Muslims are equally responsible for the misunderstandings and 'image of Islam'. First its lack of knowledge about Quran and secondly our local culture and habits.

I wish If you could ever find some time to discuss this with some impartial and open minded Muslim (there are plenty of them all over the globe) to understand the Islam is a religion of peace and love and rejects narrow vision,prejudice,hatred,bloodshed,suicidal acts,violation of all kind of human rights and no one can be a Muslim without believing Torah and Bible.

KenM, its us only us who are responsible for the misunderstandings and doubts, not Islam or Quran!

By Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | September 16, 2009 1:18 PM

All you pro Islamists, learn tp pray in Arabic, it just might come in usefull if WIlders looses , it might come in handy to learn to eat with one hand if you are sentenced under Sharia law.
The expression "do not wish for something your wish might just be granted. We are nowliving in the age where the perpetrator becomes the victim.
G/D SAVE WILDERS

By Alec Saul. | September 16, 2009 3:46 PM

Khalid Ahmed Chaudry, You are a very good person and I believe you have helped many people by your kindness and understanding. We all need to stick together and show those that spread hate, that they cannot affect our hearts and souls. Whether we are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or Hindu, it does not matter, it is our right to practice our religions and respect each other, support one another and not allow hate and bigotry anywhere near our lives. Alec Saul,.... god save you, for you are lost and miserable to live your life in fear of Islam. Islam is peace, not harmful, people who abuse Islam are harmful, just like people who abuse the bible are harmful and those who abuse the Torah by commiting war crimes as Israel was caught doing as the UN just reported, is really no different then the terrorists you confuse with Islam. Islam teaches peace, it does not teach hate anymore then the bible or Torah does. People themselves teach hate when they abuse their religions. I know many Muslims that are no different then My Jewish brothers and sisters, or christian brothers or sisters. Islam is just as much a part of History as Judism and christianity and nobody has the right to threaten it, insult it or anyones religion period.

By sandra | September 16, 2009 8:46 PM

Thank you, Khalid. You sound like a moderate Muslim, and I would be happy for the opportunity to have a discussion with you sometime.
And, you're right. In the end, it's not a book but people who commit violence and atrocities or oppression against other people.

By KenM | September 17, 2009 6:31 AM

@ Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | September 16, 2009 1:18 PM

Don't try to convince us non-muslims that islam is a religion of peace, and that we are the ones misunderstanding islam when we have a negative image of it. Instead, try to convince the islamic terrorists, jihadists, islamic supremacists and imperialists that their view of islam is incorrect. Only when the acts of muslims prove that islam teaches peace, then non-muslims will agree with you that islam is a religion of peace.

I do believe that violent jihadists are a tiny minority of all muslims, but I also believe that a large, silent majority of so called "moderate" muslims covertly approves of all this violence in name of allah.
It is not the violent terrorism that makes me worry, it is the cultural jihad, the stealth jihad and the hate for the Western civilization that worries me. Many muslims are stealthily trying to subvert the West from within, without guns or bombs. That's what worries me.

By Sjaak | September 17, 2009 8:02 AM

Dear Sandra and KenM,

Any Oxygen left on this planet, is only because of people like you, otherwise our survival wasn't possible due to the rapidly increasing suffocation!

Why can't people understand that Judaism,Christianity and Islam show tremendous respect and love for humanity, follows the same God that Abraham worshipped,believe in elevating the oppressed and in saying what is true even under the most discouraging circumstances, and honour each individual as reflective of divine essence!

I love you both and all those, whatever religious believe they are in but willing to reject negativity and accept and respect others rights human rights.

We need to struggle collectively against those elements on this earth seeking destruction of humanity and human values.

By Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | September 17, 2009 11:08 AM

@sjaak: Hi Sjaak, I understand your fear and this is exactly the fear that we felt as Indonesian muslims towards Christianity that the Dutch has brought to our country few decades ago.

What I'm trying to say is basically human being afraid of differences. We're also still trying hard to keep the harmony in our own roof. I must say that we need to take a look back and learn a lesson from there.

I think what we need to do to keep the peace and harmony is to stop being suspicious and keep on positive thinking towards others.

By Amara | September 21, 2009 10:49 PM