*Noam Chomsky once said “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” *
Jacqui Smith has shown us just how much she believes in free speech by banning Dutch MP Geert Wilders and, more recently, the Westboro Baptist Church from the UK.
Mr. Wilders made a film called Fitna, in which he claimed that terrorism and violence against non-believers is a core part of Islam.
This caused quite a bit of fuss throughout the Islamic world, with riots breaking out, calls for the film to be banned and a Fatwa (an order of death) on Mr. Wilders by Al-Qaeda.
The Westboro Baptist Church are perhaps the most hated group in America. Founded by Fred Phelps, they are the nutters who go around protesting at soldiers funerals with signs saying “God hates America” and “God hates fags”.
So it’s not surprising when people get upset by these people, but so what if people might be upset or offended? This should not result in these people being banned from the UK.
Just how does the Government decide who to ban and why? The Home Office says that it is opposed to “extremism in all its forms”.
Can you think of anything more extreme than banning someone’s right to free speech? This is the sort of thing that dictators do.
One reason these people were banned was due to fears for public safety; I find this laughable. Mr. Wilders doesn’t go around calling for people to be beheaded, or starting riots. The WBC, according to their website, have done nearly 40,000 peaceful demonstrations, and have had people being violent towards them.
It seems odd that the Home Office has decided not to ban those being violent, but rather those expressing their opinions.
Just where are all the people who said, “I do not agree with what you say, but will defend to the death you right to say it”? We could definitely do with more of them in power.
At this point I don’t wish to come across as anti-Muslim or a gay-basher; I know that this will fall on some deaf ears but I might as well make clear my position now.
While I do think that Mr. Wilders has a point to make on the Islamification of Europe, I don’t agree with him that the Koran or head-scarf should be banned, as I believe people should be able to enjoy these freedoms.
As for the WBC, I do agree with them on their interpretation of the Bible; I just don’t believe that it’s the word of God. As for their message and views, I find them repulsive.
Free speech is the cornerstone of our society; we must defend it, even for those we might hate, because without we are nothing.
1. Al Rassooli (author of “Lifting the Veil: The True Faces of Muhammad and Islam”)
I don’t know much about the WBC but (sadly) DO feel well qualified to talk about Islam (having been born and brought up in Iraq and so had to endure the full-blown monster in “its natural environment” of a dark-ages Sharia-run Islamic country anachronistically existing in the otherwise “modern” world).
There are some good points in this article, particularly regarding the British Governments hypocrisy (mainly through its “political correctness”; a confusing term, I admit, when applied to actual politicians).
It’s both hypocritical and somewhat ironic of the Government to claim to “oppose extremism in all its forms” when they have instead SUPPORTED extremism by giving in to it and doing it’s bidding….. clearly the Government are weak, have no idea how to stand up for our values (or perhaps even what those values are), and being afraid of extremists end up doing as they are asked/told by them rather than “oppose” the extremists.
Even though Geert Wilders is routinely labeled “an extremist” he isn’t extreme at all (and by many standards far more liberal than “right wing”, which is the other label often applied an a further effort to undermine and discredit him). All he’s doing is talking about the people who are (or have become) the real extremists, telling us what they are saying and warning us about them and what they may be planning to do.
If anything Geert Wilders has been “radicalised” into opposing extremism…. the very thing the Government claims to be doing itself but patently isn’t!
Now THERE’S an irony – and yet more Government hypocrisy, too.
I’ve been following Geert Wilder’s rise to world prominence with great interest. I must say that whilst he keeps things simple and sticks to the same core points (which can be slightly dull and repetitive in the end) but what he is saying is fundamentally correct.
Also, we should GREATLY admire his extraordinary courage as he’s genuinely given up his physical freedom and is risking his life on a day-in-day-out basis in order to maintain the profile of this crucially important issue: the intolerance of Islam and its many-fronted Jihad, both covertly through stealth and al-Taqiyya (lying and deceit to confuse and weaken defences) as well as “in your face” hateful screaming and violent rage.
And finally to Rhys Howells (author of the article I’m responding to)…. THANK YOU for the trouble you’ve taken, and possibly some personal risk, in publishing your article in the robust defence of free speech (and of course free thought and fair and open debate too).
Kind Regards, Al Rassooli (author of “Lifting the Veil: The True Faces of Muhammad and Islam”) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1434392023/ )
2. Al Rassooli (author of “Lifting the Veil: The True Faces of Muhammad and Islam”)
PS. Please feel free to listen to some of the short talks on my YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/AhmadsQuran3 as I believe many of them are highly relevant to the case in support of what Geert Wilders is saying.
Thanks again!
3. Frank
They can speak freely from wherever they wish, but allowing them to enter cross our borders is not quite the same. Our elected representatives have the authority to decide who should enter the country.
4. Ponyboy
Fatwa does not mean ‘order of death’. I wonder who does your research? Fatwa means a religious edict; it can be about FOOD for God’s sake.
5. Adam Troth
Frank, I think the issue that most people take is that the Government has routinely allowed extremist Muslim clerics carte blanche to come into Britain and preach hatred, yet has declined entry to an elected politician from another EU state who simply wishes to discuss issues of religion, immigration and culture in gneneral. A complete lack of consistency.
6. Rhys
This is case it does mean an order of death