Wilders angry at German ‘right-wing populist’ label

Dutch Party of the Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders has demanded the German ambassador explain why he and the anti-islam party are mentioned in a 32-page leaflet warning of the dangers posed by far-right political groupings.

The brochure, paid for by the German justice ministry, states that right-wing populist and radical parties could be a breeding ground for terrorism. Wilders is mentioned twice by name and one section includes his photograph. The folder also explains how neo-nazi strategists use social networks.

Wilders used the microblogging service Twitter to urge the Dutch government to distance itself from this ‘scandalous’ statement and said questions will be asked in parliament.

Some 10% of Germans are said to support populist right-wing groupings. Wilders’ anti-Islam party took around 15% of the vote at the June 2010 general election but support has fallen since then.

Note EU-Digest: Compliments to the German Ministry of Justice for speaking out about the dangers of right wing populism in Europe. Consequently, Mr. Wilders response and his request to the Dutch Government confirms the saying: "If the shoe fits wear i!."  So far Mr. Wilders contribution to the Dutch political and social fabric has unfortunately resulted that racist comments have been made socially acceptable; and that double standards now prevail for freedom of expression in the Netherlands.

For more: DutchNews.nl - Wilders angry at German ‘right-wing populist’ label

The Netherlands: Netanyahu amongst friends and critics

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in the Netherlands this afternoon for a two-day visit. He will first speak at the historic Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam and will be received by Queen Beatrix at her palace in The Hague tomorrow.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte will meet with him later in the day, as will members of the Dutch parliament and various cabinet ministers. The Netherlands is widely considered one of Israel’s closest allies, all the more important for Israel as Europe takes an increasingly critical stance toward the country.

The Dutch Palestine Committee Director Wim Langkamp says the only thing Mr Netanyahu should be doing in the Netherlands is to appear before the International Criminal Court.

Harry de Winter one of the founders of the Dutch Jewish organization "A Different Jewish Voice in the Netherlands" said: "He shouldn’t be coming at all. You shouldn’t be putting out the red carpet given the terrible human rights situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories. If the Netherlands were a true friend of Israel, it would be more critical of Israeli policies. Israel would benefit more from that kind of friendship."

For more: Netanyahu amongst friends and critics | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

The Netherlands - Wilders accuses left of demonizing him over Norway shootings

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam party PVV, has accused left-wing politicians of a witch hunt by trying to implicate him and his ideas in the Norwegian mass shootings of 10 days ago.

In an interview with the right-wing Telegraaf newspaper, Wilders says the left is out to demonize him by trying to connect him to shootings.

Various politicians and commentators have said that Wilders' anti-Islam speeches and his constant referrals to the 'left-wing elite' have helped create the climate in which Anders Breivik acted.

Note EU-Digest: Unfortunately Mr. Wilders and his other right-wing - anti- cultural integration, hate-spewing friends are indirectly to be blamed for the recent killings in Norway.

For more: DutchNews.nl - Wilders accuses left of demonising him over Norway shootings (update)

Europe: Islamization or Islamophobia? - by RM

Recently a friend of mine forwarded me a copy of the New York 9/11 speech by Dutch anti-Islam right wing politician Geert Wilders. My first reaction was to discard this as spam, but than I realized that if I did not react, others who did not have the background information available on this issue might start to believe his nonsense. So I decided to make use of my democratic right of free speech,  a right which Geert Wilders would like to see removed from Muslims.

Geert Wilders NY 9/11 speech was just another of his many attempts to create fear and diversion in our Western secular societies. As usual the information, as in most of his right-wing, racially and religiously slanted speeches,  is loaded with unsubstantiated statements, fables. and half truths.

Radicalism of any kind is often bred out of fear and ignorance, and usually is a tool used by those who seek political power and control. Hitler effectively used this to go after the Jews and today we have politicians like Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, Kent Ekeroth, Sweden, Jean-Marie Le Pen from France, Italy's Mario Borghezio, Flip DeWinter in Belgium, Heinz-Christian Strache from Austria and Markus Beisicht in Germany, who have taken up Hitlers banner of "ethnic cleansing".

In America the critique against Muslims might still be mostly underground, but nevertheless is also quite prevalent. Presently, however, unlike Europe, Latinos (not Muslims) dominate the immigration debate there.

The fact remains, unfortunately,  that these days Islamophobia , like anti-Semitism, hostility towards or discrimination against a person because of their faith or racial group, runs deep again in our society. The failure of some people or groups of people to distinguish between the actions of religious extremists and terrorists, and the vast majority of Muslims and their faith, has reinforced a belief in the collective guilt of Muslims.

Believe it or not, Muslims have the same constitutional rights and freedoms as all others citizens in the EU and the USA. No one has the right to make them collectively responsible for 9/11 or whatever crime some crazy politician can come up with.

Hopefully many others will speak out against this poisonous  and dangerous radicalism coming from far right populist politicians.before it totally gets out of hand.

EU-Digest

Human Rights: Council of Europe lashes out at Netherlands

Dutch rules governing family reunification violate human rights. And it is becoming increasingly difficult for migrants to bring their families to the Netherlands.

These remarks were made by Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights. The organization was founded by the parliaments of all EU member states to promote democracy and human rights.

Migrants filing an application for the reunification of their family have to meet 'unreasonable' demands, Commissioner Hammarberg said, which present insurmountable obstacles for applicants who want to be reunited with their loved ones.

For more: Council of Europe lashes out at Netherlands | Radio Netherlands Worldwide