The case against Wilders, who was acquitted in 2011 of insulting Islam, centers on comments made before and after 2014 local elections. At one party meeting he asked supporters whether they wanted more or fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands, drawing them into the chant of "Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!"
"We'll take care of it," he replied.
...Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom Party standing atop opinion polls a year ahead of Dutch parliamentary elections...
Those who advocate 'hate speech' now will not feel quite the same about it when another group gainds power and they'll be able to define what constitutes hate speech according to their whims.What constitutes "hate speech" that would generate a court case in The Netherlands? What a waste of court time. Reminds me of the perverted attempt by the Kanuckistani's to do the same to Mark Steyn. And those from The Religion of Peace would like to treat Wilders like Theo van Gogh.
Those who advocate 'hate speech' now will not feel quite the same about it when another group gainds power and they'll be able to define what constitutes hate speech according to their whims.
Seems we like the same guy! (Another Canadian btw!)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/world/europe/spain-europe-protest-free-speech.html?_r=0
"Stay Quiet and You'll Be Okay" :: SteynOnline
GAGGING US SOFTLY :: SteynOnline
A rally in Madrid this month protested the arrests of two puppeteers accused of glorifying terrorism and promoting hatred. The puppeteers could face up to seven years in prison. Credit Fernando Alvarado/European Pressphoto Agency
What constitutes "hate speech" that would generate a court case in The Netherlands?
What a waste of court time.
Reminds me of the perverted attempt by the Kanuckistani's to do the same to Mark Steyn.
And those from The Religion of Peace would like to treat Wilders like Theo van Gogh.
Those who advocate 'hate speech' now will not feel quite the same about it when another group gainds power and they'll be able to define what constitutes hate speech according to their whims.
Seems we like the same guy! (Another Canadian btw!)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/world/europe/spain-europe-protest-free-speech.html?_r=0
"Stay Quiet and You'll Be Okay" :: SteynOnline
GAGGING US SOFTLY :: SteynOnline
What constitutes "hate speech" that would generate a court case in The Netherlands?
What a waste of court time.
Reminds me of the perverted attempt by the Kanuckistani's to do the same to Mark Steyn.
And those from The Religion of Peace would like to treat Wilders like Theo van Gogh.
The process is the punishment whether Wilders is found guilty or not. No politician or journalist will dare to speak up if the government is watching their words for any sign of "hate". It will cost Wilders a great deal of time and money to defend himself against these charges so the outcome is less important than the political statement the government is making.I disagree, it is a very useful use of court time (especially because the case will be done in a few weeks with only a few days of court proceedings, at least that is the norm even for murder trials). I think he should be fined only for his words, he planned this from start to finish and that kind of hate mongering against one group of people (not one faith, that would have been somewhat different, also reprehensible but that would most likely not have lead to a court case). But who knows, he may also be found not guilty.
Exactly. They don't belong in any democracy. Good ideas will eventually win out over bad ideas without the government defining which speech is acceptable or not. This is closer to tyranny than democracy.I think it definitely destructive of democratic function to have such laws.
This is not right wing or left wing, it is European governments running scared from Muslims and their possible retaliation at being 'offended'. It applies to all western European governments who realize, too late, that the genie is out of the bottle. What idiocy!That is anti government protesting not "hate speech". The conservative right wing government put in place laws that made it much harder to protest government and making it a crime to target state officials (elected or not). Lets put it this way.. dont take a picture of a cop car here.. could land you a fine. That is what the right wing does to so called free speech.
It is a realization only because I've read books and articles by some very smart people who have inspired millions like ourselves to express our thoughts and ideas, no matter how society viewed them at the time or how different they might be. It's not ideas that are dangerous but the enforcement of them.Many people do not understand how important that realization is.
Exactly. They don't belong in any democracy. Good ideas will eventually win out over bad ideas without the government defining which speech is acceptable or not. This is closer to tyranny than democracy.
Be grateful for US influence and the First Amendment. Europe is a continuing example of what can happen without these restrictions being placed on governments.
This is not right wing or left wing, it is European governments running scared from Muslims and their possible retaliation at being 'offended'. It applies to all western European governments who realize, too late, that the genie is out of the bottle. What idiocy!
Point taken. But it is still a government threatening protesters with criminal charges and possible jail terms. This is what's happening in Europe.No the idiocy is you not looking at the freaking picture.
See the 15M? That is logo for the Spanish protest group against austerity. The picture has absolutely nothing to do with Muslims as the protest is against the sitting RIGHT WING Spanish government and their policies. This same RIGHT WING government has implemented the law that makes it possible for the people in the picture to be charged with "glorifying terror and promoting hatred". Guess what that terror is? Because the movement protects people from evictions across the country which the government sees as terror and the hatred part is hatred against the RIGHT WING political party and Spanish government. Why puppets? It is an attempt to by pass the gag law that the RIGHT WING government put in place in 2014
So please in future take your muslim hatred and stick to the freaking facts..
It is odd that so many in the forum and in the wider public especially in the European populations miss this and continuously praise the systems of continental Europe.
Sorry, but this is just one tiny aspect of the entirety that makes up a European country. And I like that there is level at which misusing freedom of speech can be prosecuted. But the times that should happen should be as infrequent as possible and only for people who are calling for violent attacks and things like this. Freedom of speech should not be limitless IMO, I do not want neo nazi's or KKK members in Europe marching the streets calling for the Europe to kick out all the black people (especially not by idiots in white sheets who call black people monkeys or inferior mongrels). Sorry, but you can say that in your own home or among your own friends but if you make public spectacles of your hatred and promote violence and terror against people for the color of their skin like the KKK does, than there should be a law that can hold the people who promote racist violence in public accountable.
But again, that is my opinion and it is just as much a part of our Judeo Christian laws as is freedom of speech (which in all reality was never a Christian principle unless of course you agreed with the church.
Regardless if set up or not... this is absurd beyond belief.I disagree, it is a very useful use of court time (especially because the case will be done in a few weeks with only a few days of court proceedings, at least that is the norm even for murder trials).
I think he should be fined only for his words, he planned this from start to finish and that kind of hate mongering against one group of people (not one faith, that would have been somewhat different, also reprehensible but that would most likely not have lead to a court case). But who knows, he may also be found not guilty.
I think it definitely destructive of democratic function to have such laws.
Problem is, those on the right are tolerant...
That is anti government protesting not "hate speech". The conservative right wing government put in place laws that made it much harder to protest government and making it a crime to target state officials (elected or not). Lets put it this way.. dont take a picture of a cop car here.. could land you a fine.
That is what the right wing does to so called free speech.
So long as you are not inciting violence... then let's hear what someone has to say.
This Speech Kontrolle crap is Stalinist in nature.
I run into that opinion a lot in Europe. It seems the idea prevails that government knows better and that by forbidding it instead of arguing against a position society can defeat it. That defeats one of the major strengths of democracy and robs it of its legitimacy.
Regardless if set up or not... this is absurd beyond belief.
No, the laws where made by the people by voting in the members of parliament who they trusted to make the rules and constitution.
And I think it enforces the strengths of democracy that it is not only freedom but it is also about respect, honoring and civil/human rights.
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