Geert Wilders offered multiculturalism lesson

19 Feb 2013, 9:31 am   -   Source: Andrew Bolton, SBS
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Anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders. (AAP)

Anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders. (AAP)

Multicultural organisations say anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders should use his Australia tour as a learning experience.

Listen: Groups offer to teach Wilders about multiculturalism

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(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)

Multicultural organisations say anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders should use his Australia tour as a learning experience.

Mr Wilders says Islam and freedom are incompatible and is coming with a warning about the dangers of allowing Muslims to immigrate to Australia.

But a range of organisations that work in the multicultural sphere are determined to prove him wrong.

The Q Society is funding Mr Wilders' Australian tour, which will involve speeches in Sydney and Melbourne this month -- about what he calls the Islamisation of Australia.

Far from calling for Gert Wilders to be banned from Australia for his controversial views, Theo Mackaay from the Victorian Council of Churches says he is welcome to look and learn.

"Let us extend our hospitality to Mr Wilders, let us engage with him, offer him the opportunity to learn how multiculturalism takes commitment but can be a wonderful wonderful way forward for any society."

Victoria's Multicultural Affairs Minister Nicholas Kotsiras says Mr Wilders' views are wrong and misinformed.

Mr Kotsiras says he supports freedom of speech but does not support the incitement of violence or hatred.

"We are multicultural and we are proud of it, we have embraced it over many years and are a prime example of how it can work. And I find it a bit amazing that someone is ready to travel 16,000 kilometres to tell us why he or his party has failed in his own country."

Mr Wilders' Party for Freedom held the balance of power in the Dutch parliament until late last year before losing more than a third of its seats in the September election.

Islamic Council of Victoria executive committee member Mohamad Tabbaa says racism is an outdated and destructive force and successful societies are built on much stronger foundations.

"Respect and co-operation are the conditions of a confident and vibrant society - they lay the foundations for a bright future - for which all members of society can thrive and reach their utmost potential. Hate and suspicion on the other hand are a sure way to destroy the fabric of societies and lead instead to division and disharmony."

Victorian Multicultural Commission chair Chin Tan says the Dutch MP is creating disharmony by casting aspersions on Muslims.

"Geert Wilders can come and go - he can express his views. What we say is that we do not agree with him and we certainly do not agree with anybody who seeks to create and incite disharmony in society. We have come out spontaneously to say we don't want that and we don't need them, we are able on our own to achieve the kind of society that's been built over a long period of time, through a lot of effort by individuals, organisations to create what we have got."

To coincide with Mr Wilders' visit, a coalition of 24 groups - including the AFL - has signed up to a statement re-affirming the success of multiculturalism.

Australian Multicultural Foundation director Dr Hass Dellal has cautioned Mr Wilders that the right to freedom of speech is not unfettered.

"Like all freedoms speech has moral limits. We welcome challenging ideas and debate, but inciting hatred and animosity toward to specific cultural and religious groups has no place in Victoria or indeed Australia."

Tight security surrounds Mr Wilders, with dozens of venues reportedly declining to host his speaking tour.

Speaking in his personal capacity, UNESCO Chair in inter-cultural and inter-religious relations, Professor Gary Bouma says Australia is no longer a little Europe.

"We have made a healthy smooth transition from being a British-dominated Protestant society to being a multi-faith society. It's happened it's taken work. A few people are a little disapointed they don't have the power they used to have but the society as a whole rejoices in the fact that we are diverse, that we allow people to be who they are."

A number of groups are planning protests during Mr Wilders' Australian tour.

WATCH: SBS Senior Correspondent Brian Thomson speaks with Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders about his trip to Australia and why he is so critical of Islam.

Geert Wilders

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MR

Dazza - from Bethania Qld, 2 months ago

There will never be Peace between the different muslim groups, there are Muslim VS Muslim wars going on around the world all the time.The latest is between Sulu Philippines and Malasian Sabah. The Sulu Muslim have their own illegal army and went to Sabah to conquer it, fortunately that faied.

Mrs

Lesley - from Sunrise Beach, Queensland, 3 months ago

Sadly, this man is only trying to point out the mistakes that Holland and most free speaking, multicultural european countries have made, and now find themselves between the devil and a hard place! He is not preaching anti-muslim theory, am sure he has absolutely no problem with muslims living in middle eastern muslim countries who choose to live by the totalitarian rule of the "Faith". Wake up australia, it is a bit hard closing the gate after the horse has bolted!

Dutch learn from Australia?

Emily - from Kingaroy, 3 months ago

Although I don't agree with all that Geert Wilders believes in. Australia as a country can still learn an awful lot from the Dutch about multiculturalism. The dutch are the most tolerant and accepting people and have allowed many things. they also have a lot more experience with people from islamic countries. The Dutch are having huge problems with people from these countries and their numbers continue to grow. They don't integrate and the growing violence is scary.

It's coming.....

Ginagubbie - from Geraldton, WA, 3 months ago

Three men were waiting at Dallas Airport for their respective flights. One was a lanky, brash, gun-chewing cowboy, one an elderly American Indian and the other a Fundamentalist Arab Student. They got into conversation but when it was known that the Arab student was a devout radical Muslim, all were quiet. "Three hundred years ago" said the Indian, "My people were many, and we roamed all over this vast land. Now we are few, and confined to reservations. I often wonder why." "Three hundred years ago" sneered the Muslim student, "Islam was unknown here. Now there are thousands of Muslims everywhere. Do you know why that is?" The cowboy stretched his legs our, pushed his Stetson to the back of his head and drawled, "Well, Ah guess that's because we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet - but Ah reckon it's 'comin!"

Are we all missing the point?

Christiaan - from Balmain, 3 months ago

I may not agree with all that Mr Wilders says, however do Australian residents know that the Netherlands is a most tolerant society which has taken in many different nationalities over the years who in general have accepted the laws of the land and integrated with the population when they decided to stay. The facts are that there is a free press and free speech in the country and prior to radical Islam there was no need for bodyguards and no killings for expressing your views in NL.

Mr

Phillip Cole - from Sydney, 3 months ago

Islam IS totally incompatible with Western values of freedom and equal rights for women. It is little more than a death worshiping fascist movement intent on forcing the rest of the world to convert to it's primitive philosophy. Wilders has to have 24 hour police protection in Holland because he has the courage to tell the truth. Our socialist government allows pro Islamic hate preaching 'leaders' to visit Australia at will but a member of the Dutch parliament is treated with distain.

Muslims are people just like any other

Dan - from Wagga, 3 months ago

Fiona - from NSW: "There are people who are working to create an islamic state in Australia". Paranoia, much? Judging by these comments, Islamophobia is alive and kicking even among the SBS audience. "Read the Koran", advise quite a few. Let me offer a much better suggestion - go and make some friends among Muslim people. You'll probably be shocked to find out that they are people just like you. Muslims are not Osama Bin Laden the same way White Christians are not Adolf Hitler. Have a nice day.

Big Mouth twit

Doody - from Epping, 3 months ago

Attention seekers like this thrive on publicity good or bad ,just ignore the jerk and hope he goes away ,or better still I dare him to go to Lakemba ,mouth off and get his mouth shut for him ...didnt think so lol

Islam welcomes other faiths?

Islam is a totally open religion - from Canberra, 3 months ago

Islam is a totally open religion and political force and embraces all other religions. Just go to any country where Islam is in the powere structure like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and they will let you set up a christian church, preach christianity in the streets and hand out christian bibles. Errrr, no they don't. open your eyes and read what has happened to christian churches in these countries. Also don't even discuss what has happened in Iran. Oh but these are not moderate Islam?

Message from a victim

Sukra - from Brisbane, 3 months ago

I come from a Buddhist tribe in Bangladesh. I can tell you life is hell in Bangladesh. Muslims can murder, rape, torture and grab our land at will. I came to Australia to escape Muslim persecution, last thing I want is Australia become another Muslim nation. Wilders is absolutely right. People who call him racist and ignorant are themselves ignorant. I am surprised by the ignorance of large number of fellow Australians. They have a naive view all religions are same. They are not.

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