UK Sends Wilders Home

This came in while I was in transit. I know you’ve all seen the news, but here it is anyway, from Radio Netherlands:

British government refuses entry

The British government has refused entry to Geert Wilders, the leader of the populist Freedom Party. The British authorities said beforehand that Geert Wilders would not be allowed to enter the country, but the MP decided to board a flight to London anyway. At the airport, he was detained by Customs officials who advised he would have to return to the Netherlands immediately.

Speaking to Reuters from the airport, Mr Wilders said

“I am in a detention centre at Heathrow… I am detained. They took my passport. I will not be allowed to enter the country. They will send me back within a few hours.”

Mr Wilders, who is about to stand trial in The Netherlands for inciting hatred towards Muslims, on Wednesday received a letter from the British Government banning him from entering the United Kingdom.

Invited by Lord

Mr Wilders was invited by a member of the House of Lords, Lord Pearson of the UK Independence Party, to show his 17-minute film Fitna. The film is a collage of Qur’an verses, footage of terrorist attacks and images of Islamic symbols.

The British refusal to deny entry to a Dutch MP has been condemned by Dutch parties from across the political spectrum. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen appealed unsuccessfuly to the British government to reconsider its decision. He said the Dutch ambassador to Great Britain, Pieter Willem Waldeck, would meet Mr Wilders when he arrived in London, to offer help if necessary. Later, the ambassador told Dutch journalists he had done everything possible, but to no avail.

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On Wednesday, parties from all sides of the Dutch political spectrum expressed their outrage over the British ban, although few MPs agree with Mr Wilders’ islamophobic views. The parliamentarians, however, stress the point that anyone within the European Union should be free to travel and to express his or her views.

On Thursday afternoon, when it was confirmed that Mr Wilders would not be allowed to enter the UK, the parliamentary leader of the Conservative VVD Party, Hans van Baalen, told Dutch news agency ANP that Sir Winston Churchill, the champion of free speech, would be “turning in his grave.” He wants the Dutch foreign minister to summon the British ambassador to the Netherlands and deliver a formal protest at the treatment of Mr Wilders. He also wants the Mr Verhagen to raise the issue at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers. The VVD’s position was echoed by the Dutch Labour Party. Labour MP Jeroen Dijsselbloem called it an ‘idiotic situation’.

Radical views

The British government has barred him from entering the country on the grounds that his radical views on Islam “would threaten community

Mr Wilders would not be allowed to enter the UK, the parliamentary leader of the Conservative VVD Party, Hans van Baalen, told Dutch news agency ANP that Sir Winston Churchill, the champion of free speech, would be “turning in his grave.” He wants the Dutch foreign minister to summon the British ambassador to the Netherlands and deliver a formal protest at the treatment of Mr Wilders. He also wants the Mr Verhagen to raise the issue at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers. The VVD’s position was echoed by the Dutch Labour Party. Labour MP Jeroen Dijsselbloem called it an ‘idiotic situation’.

Radical views

The British government has barred him from entering the country on the grounds that his radical views on Islam “would threaten community harmony and therefore public security”.

Geert Wilders published the letter on his website and responded on his website,

“Great Britain is sacrificing freedom of speech. You would expect something like this to happen in countries like Saudi Arabia, but not in Great Britain. This cowardly act by the British government is a disgrace. I was invited by a British member of parliament.”

Hat tip: TB.