Yearly Archives: 2010

Spiegel interview with Wilders

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Wilders in New York 2Geert Wilders’ interview with Der Spiegel, in which he accused Angela Merkel of “copying” his own anti-Islam rhetoric, has already attracted attention. Spiegel Online has now published an English translation of the interview. On the subject of Merkel’s attack on multiculturalism, Wilders states:

“My party and I are a threat to the political elite in many countries. But they will not stop us. Take a look at German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is now trying to create a copy….

“Merkel is afraid – because there are opinion polls which show that a charismatic figure, if one were to emerge in Germany as I have done in the Netherlands, could count on 20 percent of the vote. I mean a figure without a far right-wing background – in other words, not from the Republikaner (REP) or the National Democratic Party (NPD). This represents a threat to the mainstream political parties, which is why they are now trying to copy us: Merkel has declared that the multicultural society has failed….

“I have never heard her say before that the multicultural society has failed. And the majority of Germans reject the statement by German President Christian Wulff that Islam is part of Germany. This means that what we have already witnessed here in Holland is now occurring in your country as well – the political elite is in turmoil…. The head of Germany’s conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), Horst Seehofer, not only says that the multicultural society is dead, but also that he wants no more Turkish and Arab immigrants.”

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Wilders is a fascist, says Dutch philosopher

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party is a fascist movement. That’s according to Dutch philosopher Rob Riemen in an essay sent to all members of parliament. He says he cannot understand why people are afraid to call a spade a spade.

Up to the 1990s, the fascism and Nazism of WWII marked the moral limit in Dutch politics. However, since the debate about immigration and the rise of Geert Wilders, it has become taboo to mention this. Any comparison of Wilders’ anti-Islamic party with fascism has been regarded as muddying the waters.

Nonsense, says Rob Riemen, Wilders is simply a fascist. “I don’t mean that as a term of abuse, it’s an objective historical judgment. There are numerous parallels between fascism then and now. History is there to learn from and, if we don’t, we will make the same mistakes.”

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Republican right exploits Islamophobia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Looking at the smoldering post-election landscape and the long presidential campaign trail ahead, it’s clear that Islamophobia as a political tool is here to stay – wielded by Republicans who use it to excite and galvanize the right wing, embarrass their opponents and sow the seeds of fear and paranoia in everyone else. And it’s so damn effective!”

Kelley B. Vlahos at antiwar.com, 9 November 2010

Leo McKinstry warns against ‘the rapid Islamification of our public culture’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The fabric of our civilisation is now at risk from militant Islam which aims to destroy our way of life. Yet instead of showing resolve in the face of this challenge, the political establishment vacillates between collusion and denial.

We are told that the Muslim zealots are a only tiny minority while we are also given constant assurances that there is no cause for concern in the rapid Islamification of our public culture….

But this is the hallmark of Britain’s relationship with Islam, where fear is dressed up as tolerance. Our political leaders constantly prattle about equality, yet they allow Sharia courts to flourish in our midst, with all its nasty oppression of women.

They pretend that the burqa is a welcome form of Muslim self-expression, though they would not dream of allowing British youths to go around public spaces permanently wearing black balaclavas. They do nothing to combat Muslim extremism on university campuses or in so-called faith schools and allow laws on human rights to be cynically exploited by those who only have contempt for humanity.

In this climate of denial, a number of myths are sedulously promoted to quell justified public anxieties about Islam. One is the emphasis on the majority of Muslim moderates who have nothing to do with extremism. But in recent years, this majority has been distinguished only by its silence….

We are dealing with a dangerous, aggressive ideology, not some minor fringe problem. “Islam will dominate the world” read one of the placards at last week’s [demonstration]. Unless we wake up, this will become a terrifying reality.

Daily Express, 8 November 2010

Update:  See also ENGAGE, 8 November 2010

Surbiton man faces charges over anti-Islam demo fight

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Three men accused of fighting with Muslims have been temporarily banned from attending marches organised by far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) as part of their bail conditions. The trio appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 3 to jointly face charges of affray and threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour.

The allegations followed a protest march organised by the EDL, which opposes the spread of Islam and Sharia law. All three men were at the demonstration, which began outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington on October 24, before marching to Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, the court heard.

Christopher Long, 38, from Kent Way, Surbiton, was accused of kicking, overturning a table and fighting with an Asian man. Bryan Kelso, 28, who told the court he was homeless, was accused of grabbing a banner belonging to a counter-demonstrator and smashing it. Brian Bristow, 37, who is also homeless, has been staying on friends’ floors, having been evicted from his council house, the court heard.

All three were granted bail by District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe on the condition they did not attend any marches, demonstrations or counter-demonstrations organised by the English Defence League. A prosecution request to bar the men from entering Westminster or going back to Speakers’ Corner as part of their bail conditions was rejected by the judge.

Mr Kelso and Mr Bristow were ordered to report to their nearest police station, which the court was told was Doncaster. All three will reappear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 15 for their next hearing.

Surrey Comet, 8 November 2010

Judge blocks Oklahoma anti-Islam constitutional amendment

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A federal judge in Oklahoma today temporarily blocked an anti-Islam state ballot measure (officially known as SQ 755) that would have amended that state’s constitution to forbid judges from considering Islamic principles (Shariah) or international law when making a ruling.

U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange of the United States District Court – Western District of Oklahoma granted a temporary restraining order blocking certification of the November 2nd passed ballot measure by the Oklahoma State Board of Elections.

The court ruling came one day before the certification of the election results. If the voting result is certified on November 9, the measure would amend the Oklahoma state constitution to forbid judges from considering Islamic principles (Shariah) or international law to guide their decisions.

Judge Miles-LaGrange also scheduled a hearing on November 22 for arguments as to whether she should grant a preliminary injunction that would extend the restraining order until a final determination is made in the case.

OpEd News, 8 November 2010