Dutch MP Wilders anti-Islam warnings dismissed

14 Feb 2013, 8:14 am   -   Source: SBS staff
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Controversial far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders says he's open to meeting with any Australian politician who will have him. (AAP)

Controversial far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders says he's open to meeting with any Australian politician who will have him. (AAP)

Ahead of his speaking tour of Australia next week, controversial far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders says he's open to meeting with any Australian politician who will have him.

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Ahead of his speaking tour of Australia next week, controversial far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders says he's open to meeting with any Australian politician who will have him.

Mr Wilders, who is calling for an end to Islamic migration to Europe and compares the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf, did not specify whether he'd be holding talks with any particular political figures during his visit.

He said a possible meeting with Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, who he's previously held talks with in Europe, now looked unlikely given Australia was in an election year.

Speaking with the ABC, Mr Wilders had this message for Australian politicians ahead of his arrival.

"Australian politicians, don't be afraid of me. I'm a lawmaker, not a lawbreaker and I'm just telling the truth and I want Australia, a country and a people that I respect very much - any Dutchman knows that young Australians fought for our freedom in the first and second World War - I hope I can tell you what happened in Europe and support you in your fight to preserve freedom for your children."

But Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has dismissed warnings by a controversial Dutch politician that Australia needs to learn from Europe and be vigilant of Islam by not allowing the mass immigration of Muslim people.

Geert Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom that holds the balance of power in the Dutch parliament, made the comment ahead of his visit to Australia next week.

Mr Wilders says he wants to warn Australia against allowing the mass immigration of people from Muslim countries because Islam and freedom are incompatible.
   
But, speaking to the ABC, Mr Dreyfus says Mr Wilders' views have no relevance in Australia.

"We're a long established democracy with successful multiculturalism. We're also a country with a long standing commitment to free speech and robust political debate. Mr Wilders is free to come and express his views here in Australia, but I'm equally free to condemn them and the government does condemn the views that he expressed and I imagine he's going to be expressing during his speaking tour here in Australia."
 

Geert Wilders

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2012 elections

Tom Z. - from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 3 months ago

@EliG @Ray Borradale, in 2012 the Netherlands had elections and Geert Wilders was the biggest loser. He lost 6 seats and he is now tied with the Socialist Party as the third biggest party representing 10% of the voters. In what world is that a majority?

ms

Joewolb - from melbourne, 3 months ago

Jewish can be a race or religion. Moslem is definitely not a race but likely a religion. Therefore white policy or racism is immaterial. Am I right?

Welcome to Australia, Geert

Aqua Domo - from Bunbury 6230, 3 months ago

Just bwhile listening to the breif interlude with Geert and Koshi the other morning, across the bottom of the screen flashed news items; Three Muslim extremists cherged in London relating to a series of exposed bombing threats to kill multiple groups throught UK.. Next was a Bombing attack in Syria where dozens of people were killed in bicycle bomb raids. How many of these Extremists do we need here to cause havoc like in London Buses and Underground. Aussies were in that lot !!!!!l

HEARING

LISTENER - from PERTH, 3 months ago

Geert is telling us what has, and is, happening in Holland and the rest of Europe - FACTS! His warnings are similar to those given at other times by other Politicians unafraid of going against the srtream, eg., Winston Churchill - Germany re-arming prior to WW2 : Enoch Powell - warning Britain about uncontrolled immigrant intake from commonwealth countries. Both were prooved correct with their warnings. Geert is facing the ire of the political ostriches who do not care about their countries.

Mr

David Pennock - from Hamlyn Terrace, 3 months ago

All races have the extremes of human nature that can make life either pleasant or stressfull .Throw in a book of rules, & those raised with it and adhering to it will always make life a misery for those, who want more choice or flexibility. And, they do not have to be anywhere near a majority to do this. The Koran as devised by an whole series of Mohammeds over many hundreds of years, is unflexible and a without much joy programme for living (existing), which conflicts & condem's Aussie culture

To Maarten van Haaren - from Singapore

EliG - from Melbourne, 3 months ago

He has not lost credibility. i suggest you check your facts before speaking. He has majority votes in the Netherlands, the government collapsed 3 years ago when he withdrew his support and they begged him to come back. He is popular there. Although as I can see you are from singapore and are probably muslim your biased, subjective inaccurate opoinion does not count.

Mr

Ray Borradale - from Brisbane, 3 months ago

In 2006 Party for Freedom won 6 seats. In 2010 it won 24 seats. To counter the undeniable brutality of Islam by suggesting he is a racist and the party faithful are nazis is simply desperation. Clearly there will be many, many Muslims who do not follow the extremes of Islam and they are not the problem. Violence is inherent within many of the Muslim youth and that comes from extremist clerics. That violence has grown across Europe and it will grow here.

Another Hitler

Diana - from Sydney, 3 months ago

This man is nothing but ignorant and disgusting, preaching hate against Islam when anyone who knows anything about the religion knows that it is based on respect and tolerance. The Prophet Mohammad used to take out his neighbors rubbish, the man was a christian and hated the Prophet, when the man was ill the Prophet went to his aid. The Quran asks humans to act like HUMANS not uncivilized and hateful beings like Wilders. Its sad because this ignorance transfers to young unknowing minds here.

Honesty in this debate

Kasey - from Brisbane Qld, 3 months ago

It's rather amazing how all the anti- Wilders people distort and deliberately mis-represent what he says. Being anti-Islamic is not at all the same as being anti-Muslim, [any more than being anti-Nazi was being anti-German] Islam is the threat, esp. when radicals get control and the imams use their power to control the "silent" majority who cannot act from fear of retribution. So many Westerners are ignoant of the true facts behind the ideology contained in its three "holy" books..

Wilders

Maarten van Haaren - from Singapore, 3 months ago

This Dutch "politician" has lost all credibility in Holland.I do hope that the Australians will ignore what ever he has to say.

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