Europe Features
Interview: I miss freedom, says Dutch Islam critic Geert Wilders
Jan 3, 2008, 17:42 GMT
An undated file photo of Dutch right wing politician Geert Wilders, leader of the liberal-rightist Freedom Party, said 24 December 2007 in an interview with a Dutch newspaper he would go ahead with plans to release a film criticizing the Koran in January. EPA/KOEN SUYK
The Hague - Rightwing Dutch politician and Islam critic Geert Wilders has made a name for himself with harsh one-liners about Muslims, migration and remarks about the 'Islamization of the Netherlands.'
Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, the 44-year old Freedom Party leader, vilified as populist, prides himself on his 'clear cut' expressions. He wants to end the 'so-called pragmatic consensus mentality' that characterizes Dutch national culture.
Wilders says his goal is 'preserving Dutch identity and Dutch values' - this is why he opposes continued immigration as well as far-reaching European integration.
Contradictions surface during the conversation.
While referring to problems Wilders says migrants have caused the Dutch welfare state, he also argues the welfare state often destroys people's personal drive to succeed, applauding the US for 'not pampering' its citizens, particularly its migrants.
Likewise, Wilders supports the NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan as a means to tackle Islamic fundamentalism and maintain international stability, but does not expect 'modernization of Islam within the next several thousand years.'
Despite saying he supports the ISAF mission, Wilders voted against the extension of the Dutch ISAF mission to Afghanistan until 2010 back in November. 'It is high time other countries also take responsibility and contribute to NATO,' he says.
Wilders originally made a career in the Liberal VVD party, which removed him late in 2004 due to his 'rightist' positions.
He subsequently established the Freedom Party and won nine of the 150 parliamentary seats in the 2006 elections. Many polls have suggested that he might receive up to 13 seats if elections were held today.
'Freedom starts with the law and also includes embracing local norms and values,' Wilders says, 'including to act against a backward culture like that of Islam, an ideology which in my view wants to take our freedom away from us.'
Asked whether it is possible to discuss issues that do not have any relationship with Islam and migrants, Wilders responds: 'That is impossible, because migrants do exist, and their hypothetical absence from Dutch reality may be my Utopia, but is not realistic.'
'Ultimately many fundamental problems in the Netherlands are directly related to migrants, like infrastructure, traffic jams, housing problems, the welfare state.'
Removing international trade barriers plays a fundamental role in Wilders' approach towards migration.
'I propose to stop all development aid and simultaneously ensure developing countries can compete fairly on the world market. The European Union should also stop its subsidies to the Polish and French farmers.
'Only then can developing countries build healthy, competitive economies. This will remove the incentive to migrate to Europe.'
But Wilders does not expect the European Union to play such a role: 'The Polish and French farmers are too powerful and besides, European migration policies are too lenient.'
The Dutch politician opposed the European constitution and also the recently signed European treaty, believing that the EU 'limits national sovereignty.'
'I want to enter the European Parliament in the next elections - I expect to gain one or two seats - primarily to abolish (it).'
Wilders cannot name any European politician he feels close to.
'As a liberal, I feel close to the conservatives and liberals, but I am not sure they want to cooperate with me. I definitely would not like to work with Le Pen and like-minded parties - fascists - in whose category many people mistakenly place my party.'
Following his call in August to ban the Koran as a 'fascist book,' Wilders recently announced he is producing a film about the Muslim holy scriptures which will be released later this month.
'I receive death threats daily. My opinions are strong, but I am not violent. Still, I have to live with personal security guards around the clock.
'I lost several friends because they feared to become a target too. It also affects my family. That is particularly painful. What I miss most in my life today? Freedom.'
© 2008 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
If a person wears a doctors uniform, that does not make him a doctor. If a person wears traditional muslim garments, that does not make him a true muslim.
Do you think that Geert Wilders really does read the quraan? I think not. If he does, that means that he knows about simple things that the quraan teaches like honey being the cure for so many ailments such as cough and for insect bites?
Did you know that the quraan preaches muslims to respect every man and woman and his or her religion, BUT to stand up against injustices of any kind, whether it be against muslims or christians or anyone else?
Do you know that most medical journals take the knowledge of the growth of a human foetus from the teachings of the Holy Quraan?
Do you know that the Holy Quran teaches all humans to use a stick called a miswaak to clean his or her teeth? Do you know that the miswaak provides health benefits for the teeth and the digestive system?
Do you know that modern science cannot produce similar resullts up till today realising also that the Quraan has stated this almost 1500 years ago?
Do you believe in these words?
I guess not.
You cant believe what I say as you have not read the Quraan, nor the teachings of the Quraan, nor of the teachings of the example of the Prophet Muhammad.It is only to enlighten yourself, not to impress others but for yourself to understand.
Then we appreciate the words of the Muslim teacher Al Ghazzali - 'The higher one ascends a mountain, the farther one sees.'
@ Ebrahim
Are you for real? Geert Wilders has read the koran, that is the exact reason why he makes his film. He will discolse the koran as a fascist, anti- semitic and homophobic totalitarian book. Obviously he has read it better than you, since your assessment of that terrible book of the deathcult surely doesn't convince me nor any non muslim, I would think. Or would you like me to quote some verses? islam 'the religion of peace'? You have got to be kidding.
what a fool you obviously dont no nothing about ancient empires of persia, ottomans, mughals and the rest they invented many things that we use in the world today. do some homework before you make such remarks you uneducated invalid. i think you find that not all people around the world are muslim that starve thats just your ignorant thick skulled head which doesnt allow people like you and the dutch government and anti muslim politicians.
If they did invent some product please tell me what?
All inventions came from Europe, America, Israel, India, Egypt, and the Romans.
I guess you could claim the suicide bomber as an islamic invention.
That would be pathetic.
Hungarian Crusader
Islam is a religion with many problems in this day and age such as how to deal with Women having equal rights as men and having the determination to do as they please without a man approving their movements and associations. It is an old religeon and belongs in the past. Mohammed the prophet was a warlord and personally killed up to 700 hundred jews allegedly by his own hand cutting their throats and throwing them into trenches. The Kaffirs or non believers are regarded as second class citizens. All those who defend Islam do they realise the bloodthirsty baptism of fire their own religion has come from?. Islam does not mean peace? It means Struggle! and peace when all of the World submits to the islamic caliphate! This is not a religion of tolerance.
Im from holland and Geert Wilders is the best thing happening to us and Europe. He is the one that wants our traditional values to be tje nr1 in the country. He wants to eliminate the growing influence muslims/immigrants have on various facets of our society like the lway for instance.
It sucks the other political parties are too afraid too speak their minds and do what the people actually would want. They think they know but they stand too far away from their voters. They do now know what life is like for 'plain citizens'. Wilders on the other hand is more down to earth and has a better understanding of life in holland and knows what needs to be done in order to clean the streets and schools and make sure our western values and morals will stay the nr1 factor in this degrading country!
page: 1
preben hansenJan 4th, 2008 - 21:17:40
i have admiration for geert, it takes guts to stand up and be counted. europe must show they have a spine or the muslims will surely outbreed them. name me one thing the muslims are famous for, what did they invent? except producing misery, in form of children they cant feed. it doesnt take a man to produce kids, but it does take a man to care for the family he wants to raise. i am from denmark and i am amased they let the danish school children eat halad meat. i have several dutch friend here in america, and find they are mostly of the same thinking as geert.
stand up for holland-god bless
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