Saudi Arabia
is considering trade sanctions against the Netherlands because of
stickers printed by far-right politician Geert Wilders which display
anti-Islam slogans in the colors of the Saudi flag, a Dutch foreign
ministry spokesman said.
Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Dutch Freedom Party, is tied in first place with the Democrats in national opinion polls before European Parliament elections that will be held in the Netherlands on Thursday.
His virulent anti-Islam statements have angered many and Wilders has lived under round-the-clock armed guard since he received death threats in 2004.
"We have indications that Saudi Arabia is considering measures because of the insults to its flag and religion by Geert Wilders," Foreign Ministry spokesman Friso Wijnen said.
Wijnen could not say what these indications are, but that the Dutch government is seeking contact with Riyadh. The stickers were first printed in December.
"The Cabinet strongly distanced itself from the insults Wilders first made to the Saudi flag and the religion in December," Wijnen said. "It still does now."
Note EU-Digest: Even though many people do not agree with Mr. Wilders' viewpoints, the disrespectful statements made by Wilders against Saudi Arabia and Islam are his own and not those of the Dutch Government. The Saudi Royal family, however, does not seem to be aware of the fact that in Democratic societies like the Netherlands , where human rights laws are respected, all citizens, including politicians, are allowed to speak out freely on any subject, without fear of retaliation by anyone.
Read more: Netherlands: Saudi Arabia may curb trade ties over Wilders' anti-Islam slogans | Reuters
Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Dutch Freedom Party, is tied in first place with the Democrats in national opinion polls before European Parliament elections that will be held in the Netherlands on Thursday.
His virulent anti-Islam statements have angered many and Wilders has lived under round-the-clock armed guard since he received death threats in 2004.
"We have indications that Saudi Arabia is considering measures because of the insults to its flag and religion by Geert Wilders," Foreign Ministry spokesman Friso Wijnen said.
Wijnen could not say what these indications are, but that the Dutch government is seeking contact with Riyadh. The stickers were first printed in December.
"The Cabinet strongly distanced itself from the insults Wilders first made to the Saudi flag and the religion in December," Wijnen said. "It still does now."
Note EU-Digest: Even though many people do not agree with Mr. Wilders' viewpoints, the disrespectful statements made by Wilders against Saudi Arabia and Islam are his own and not those of the Dutch Government. The Saudi Royal family, however, does not seem to be aware of the fact that in Democratic societies like the Netherlands , where human rights laws are respected, all citizens, including politicians, are allowed to speak out freely on any subject, without fear of retaliation by anyone.
Read more: Netherlands: Saudi Arabia may curb trade ties over Wilders' anti-Islam slogans | Reuters
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