Geert Wilders

From Philosopedia

Geert Wilders (6 September 1963 - )

Wilders, a Dutch politician, was born in Venlo, Netherlands. His father was a manager for the Netherlands-based company, Océ, one that manufactures and sells production printing and copying hardware and related software. One of four children, he was raised Roman Catholic but is quoted as being "no longer religious." Wilders is married and has no children.

Since 1998, he has been a member of the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), first first for the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and from 2006 for the Party for Freedom, a party which he founded and of which he is the political leader.

Known as a Dutch antagonist of Islam but pro-Israel, he favors the restriction of immigration, particularly from non-Western countries. As a critic of Islam and self-proclaimed defender of free speech, he has sought to ban the Koran in the Netherlands because he believes it to be in conflict with Dutch law.

"I believe the Islamic ideology is a retarded, dangerous one, but I make a distinction. I don't hate people. I don't hate Muslims," he told Gregory Crouch in The Hague, adding, "I am not saying all Muslims re wrong or are terrorists or criminals. You will never hear me say that."

A short film critical of the Koran that the Dutch television stations have refused to broadcast was scheduled to be released on the internet in April 2008. On 27 March 2008, it was shown and immediately was both praised and attacked. Titled Fitna, Arabic for civil strife, it was immediately accused of polarizing religious groups but also of being right-wing extremist. LiveLeak, which had posted it, received threats to the company and its staff and chose to delete the film.

Fitna, however, had already been accessioned by many, and is easily seen online.

On 30 June 2008, Prosecution spokeswoman Hanneke Fester said Wilders' statements

• were allowable under Dutch law, which forbids inciting hatred against groups on the basis of their race or creed but also grants leeway to freedom of speech. "We came to the conclusion that (Wilders' statements) may be hurtful and painful for Muslims but they were made in the context of a debate in society," she said. "That doesn't mean you can say anything, but you have to really cross a line and be unnecessarily hurtful and insulting and not add anything" to the national debate in order for prosecutors to act, she said.

Wilders plans a Fitna sequel.