DutchNews.nl - Wilders' supporters threaten singer

Anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders has criticised his supporters for making threats against singer Herman van Veen, following an article in Monday's Telegraaf.

In a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, Van Veen warned that Wilders' political party PVV has no members apart from himself and is financed by [anonymous] donations.

This put the PVV at risk of becoming like the Dutch Nazi party NSB during the 1930s and a threat to democracy, Van Veen said.

Wilders, who portrays himself as a champion of free speech, told news agency ANP: 'Van Veen absolutely does not deserve to be threatened, and if that is the case, I think it is despicable.'

Wilders said he hoped that now the 'demonisation of the PVV by making stupid comments and vile comparisons will stop'.

One leader

Van Veen told a tv show on Monday night he had received thousands of emails saying 'very unpleasant things' following a report of his speech in the populist paper Telegraaf.

Van Veen, who says he was quoted out of context by the paper, used the show to again state that he is concerned about the emergence of a political movement in which one man has all the power.

Top lawyer Bram Moszkowicz, who will represent Wilders at his trial for inciting hatred in June, also said Van Veen was 'demonising' the PVV leader. 'You are insulting two million people,' he said, referring to the apparent size of Wilders' support in the country as a whole.

'The PVV has no members because a membership list would give access to dodgy characters who would wreck the party from the inside,' the lawyer was quoted as saying in the Telegraaf.

It sounds so like Juvinile behavior making threats. Jeez, Grow up children!

By sandra | November 10, 2009 1:25 PM

I remember when children (aged 12 and 13 iirc) made threats against Mr Wilders.

He took them to court.

By osita | November 10, 2009 4:22 PM

Sandra, Wilders is sponsored by the zionists to stir racial problems, the sooner people stand up against this horrible wretch, the better.

By sublime | November 10, 2009 7:13 PM

Wilders has an extreme lack of education of Islam and its great history. The day of resurrection is guaranteed for everyone, how will Wilders stand in front of God and defend his insults against Islam?

By Imran | November 10, 2009 9:58 PM

If the PVV has no members then who sent those thousands of emails?

By joe | November 11, 2009 1:53 AM

Joe, clearly he has many supporters and unlike those above making childish comments, Wilders is a committed and educated Politician.

By Stefan | November 11, 2009 8:29 AM

Mr. Van Veen has made a report to the police and will be pressing charges against those responsible for the threats.

By sandra | November 11, 2009 10:47 AM

"Wilders is sponsored by the zionists to stir racial problems, the sooner people stand up against this horrible wretch, the better. "-
Now this is scary, of course, bring in the Jews!, huh, how about going all the way and saying that Wilders is a character in the "Protocols of Zion"
fable.
I hope Van Veen gets justice for the threats they are uncalled for and so is comparing Wilders to a Nazi or saying things like he's controlled by the Zionist regime!

By bet | November 13, 2009 7:59 AM

Insulting Wilders is too easy and he seems to be pretty good at insulting himself, so I'll leave that to him. But the heart of this issue is pretty black and white. When a political party is not forthcoming with who their members are and who or what organizations are financing them it is dangerous for all of us. Money is always at least a part of motivation no matter how altruistic you are. Are for a man that believes so strongly in freedom of speech, freedom of information should not be such a stretch.

By Sheldon | November 13, 2009 11:45 AM