Friday, February 20, 2009

Geert Wilders’ Speech in Rome

Geert Wilders in RomeBelow is the speech given yesterday in Rome by Geert Wilders.

A Italian news video of his walkabout in the city is here, and a video of the presentation of the Oriana Fallaci Free Speech Award is here.


Speech by Geert Wilders
Rome, February 19, 2009


Signore e signori, molte grazie. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much.

I feel very honoured to have been invited to speak here in Rome, to speak here in this splendid city, the cradle of our Western civilization.

As you perhaps know, Oriana Fallaci is one of my heroes. She definitely was one of the greatest examples of bravery and honesty. Her brilliant books ‘The Rage and the Pride’ and ‘The Force of Reason’ are my guidelines that inspire me day after day. Mr. Manocchia, Una via per Oriana, thank you very much for remembering the great Oriana Fallaci. The world should remember her forever.

Ladies and gentlemen, following in the footsteps of Oriana Fallaci, I want to warn you for a great threat. This great threat is called Islam.

Islam is build on two rocks. First there is the Koran, Allah’s personal word, with orders that need to be fulfilled by Muslims regardless of place and time. As you know, the Koran calls for hatred, violence, submission, murder, terrorism, war, Jihad. The Koran calls upon Muslims to kill non-Muslims and he Koran considers Jews to be monkeys and pigs. That is why the great German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer called the Koran inferior. That is why former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Oriana Fallaci compared the Koran to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

Second, there is the so called perfect man: Muhammad. His deeds have to be imitated by all Muslims, and since Muhammad was a warlord and executed prisoners of war we know exactly what to expect. The brave American apostate dr. Wafa Sultan said: “The problem is that the Koran clearly says that Muhammad should be a role model for every Muslim. You are not allowed to criticise him, but you should follow in his footsteps. As a Muslim it is your mission to spread Islam by the sword”.

Please, ladies and gentlemen, let no one fool you: Islam means submission, so there cannot be any mistake about its goal. There are moderate Muslims, but there is no moderate Islam.
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A total of 54 million Muslims live across Europe. In less than half a century the number of Muslims has increased rapidly. The Islamization of Europe affects the European achievements of the last century. The question is: Are we prepared to defend our achievements? Are we prepared to defend the equality of men and women? Are we prepared to defend the equality of homo- and heterosexuals? Are we prepared to defend the separation of Church and State? Are we prepared to defend freedom of speech?

Ladies and gentlemen, I would not qualify myself as a free man. Four and a half years ago I lost my freedom. Since then I am under 24-hour police protection. As if that is not enough, the most radical Dutch Imam claimed 55.000 euros in compensation for his hurt feelings because of ‘Fitna’. The State of Jordan is possibly going to issue a request for my extradition to stand trial in Amman. The Amsterdam Court of Appeal ordered my criminal prosecution for making ‘Fitna’ and for my political views on Islam. And last week the British government refused my entrance into the United Kingdom because me showing ‘Fitna’ in the British House of Lords at the invitation of a British parliamentarian would be a threat to British public security. This is the alarming state of freedom of speech in today’s Europe: Criticizing Islam has become a dangerous activity, criticizing Islam has apparently become a criminal act.

You just saw ‘Fitna’. My name is on the credit roll, but like you have seen, ‘Fitna’ is actually not made by me, but is made by radical Muslims, the Koran and Islam itself. If ‘Fitna’ is considered to be hate speech, then what is the Koran? If I am considered to be a threat to public security, then what is Islam?

The Court’s decision and my ban by the British government are two major victories for Islam. Both institutions have sided with Islam. The first Soviet leader, Lenin, once labelled ignorant people that unknowingly aided his cause as ‘useful idiots’. Well, the Court and the British government are the ‘useful idiots’ of today, and I think they are even proud of it.

The Court’s decision and my ban by the British government are also two major victories for all those who hate freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech — the dearest of our liberties — is under attack in today’s Europe. Oriana Fallaci herself had to live in fear of extradition to Switzerland because of her book ‘The Rage and the Pride’. Recently, Susanne Winter, an Austrian politician, was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence for telling the truth about Muhammad. The Dutch cartoonist Gregorius Nekschot was arrested by ten police men because of his drawings, and on top of all that, we now have the decisions of the Inquisition-like Court in Amsterdam and the Dhimmi British government.

Freedom of speech is no longer a given in Europe. What we once considered to be a natural component of our existence is now something we have to fight for. That is what is at stake. Whether or not I end up in jail is not the most important issue. The question is: Will free speech be put behind bars?

I repeat the words inscribed on the headstone of the murdered Dutch anti-Islam politician dr. Pim Fortuyn, who lies buried here in Italy and would have celebrated his birthday today: ‘loquendi libertatum custodiamus’, let us guard freedom of speech.

That is why I propose the withdrawal of all hate speech legislation in Europe. I propose a European First Amendment. Freedom of speech is the keystone of our Western civilization, it is the keystone of our democracies and the keystone of our freedom. That is why freedom of speech should be extended instead of restricted. Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’, Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s and Theo van Gogh’s film ‘Submission’, Kurt Westergaard’s cartoons and my documentary ‘Fitna’ should never be banned, but should be protected. As George Orwell once said: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is five to twelve. In Europe, our freedom is at stake. Islam is Europe’s Trojan Horse. The differences between Saudi-Arabia and the Netherlands, between Iran and Italy are blurring. The first Islamic invasion of Europe was stopped at Poitiers in 732. The second Islamic invasion was halted at the gates of Vienna in 1683. Now we have to stop the current — stealth — Islamic invasion. Ladies and gentlemen, once Islam conquered Constantinople, now it wants to conquer Rome. We have to stop the Islamization of Europe, because if we don’t, Europe will become Eurabia.

Fortunately there is some hope. This hope does not come from governments, but from the people. In the Netherlands, 60 percent of the population considers mass immigration to be the number one policy mistake since the Second World War. Another 60 percent sees Islam as the biggest threat to our national identity. I am convinced that the public opinion in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and here in Italy isn’t much different.

We have to maintain our values. We have to maintain our liberties. We have to maintain our civilization. We have to maintain the heritage of Rome, because we owe it to our children.

As Oriana Fallaci once said: “The moment you give up your principles, and your values, you are dead, your culture is dead, your civilization is dead”.

Thank you very much.

15 comments:

Holger said...

He is the future leader of the EU! All it takes are a few more islamic bombs on european soil...

John Sobieski said...

Well Newsweek has already been trashing Wilders, wonder what the rest of the lamestream media will do when he touches down in NYC.

Joanne said...

Have we all gone mad! I guess this is what happens when bleeding-heart liberals are allowed to breed and gain power over us. God Help Us.

Go Wilders Go!!!

heroyalwhyness said...

Eccellente!

I envision Orianna's full endorsement of this worthy recipient. Geert Wilder's demonstrates unwavering courage as he presents his case - our case - to the world. He is an amazing hero for this age. My children know and admire Mr. Wilders and understand the importance of this mission.

zebulon9 said...

Don't forGeert Wilders!

Stop talking, start acting.

Isn't Geert's freedom worth a stamp?

If Geert Wilders falls, then Freedom of speech is dead in Europe. We are launching an extensive International Action SITA including two possible texts ; one comparing Wilders and Winston Churchill and another Wilders and Charlie Chaplin:

http://sitamnesty.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/i-support-democrat-geert-winston-wilders-against-islamic-fascism-and-its-dhimmis

http://sitamnesty.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/i-support-democrat-geert-charlie-wilders-against-islamic-fascism

To support Geert Wilders and our dearly acquired freedoms please participate to the 2 suggested actions and transmit this message to your friends owners of a website in order they publish it. An other way to support Geert Wilders is to give some money. To donate: http://www.geertwilders.nl

Anonymous said...

Wrote this on LGF way back in 2002

Jihad is not just waging war by weapons but waging war on all institutions of the infidel. And one of the most unique and vulnerable institutions of our civilisation is freedom of speech. This freedom is now being compromised throughout the West. But without this freedom, the West has no meaning. We have, by allowing Muslim immigration to the West, compromised, if not fatally damaged that most crucial, valued and cherished of all freedoms of the West.
It now seems that freedom of speech only exists for Islamists and their apologists, for they are the only ones who are not in fear of their lives. Anyone who dares to be even slightly critical of Islam is badgered by the likes of CAIR or goes in fear of his life. Surely this cannot go on. If we allow this to continue, then regardless of how many battles we win in the Muslim world, we will lose the war.

This is not going to end well. Sooner or later, there is going to be a civilisational war and no prisoners will be taken. That is why I believe that we have no alternative but a separation of muslim and non-muslim worlds. This is extreme but far far better then the alternative ie., the extinction of one of the protagonists.

Joanne said...

DP111 - I agree with your post. I do not believe, in any capacity, that practicing Muslims can live in harmony with the western world. Their desire is to live according to the teachings of Islam and all others must submit or die, no matter where they live on this earth because they believe it all belongs to their God.

It is the mission of Muslims throughout the west and Europe to accomplish their goals without any catastrophe that could be attributed to their actions that would possibly cause the west to rise up against them before they are ready to take over.

When and if the Lord Ahmed threatened to call for 10,000 Muslims to hit the streets in protest about Wilders, the proper response should have been, "Go ahead." We should not back down from these people - our anger should rage against these threats. We will be appeasing ourselves into submission before long, and if we do not turn back to our own teachings of the Bible, we will suffer the consequences until we do. The remedy is simple, but the path is narrow.

Zenster said...

This is the alarming state of freedom of speech in today’s Europe: Criticizing Islam has become a dangerous activity, criticizing Islam has apparently become a criminal act.

I have long maintained that the single most alarming and poisonous trend in modern-day Europe is its attempt to criminalize free speech.

People around the world must be made to understand that this one single issue is worth going to war over.

Joanne: DP111 - I agree with your post.

As do I. Well written and concise. Especially this particular passage:

This is not going to end well. Sooner or later, there is going to be a civilisational war and no prisoners will be taken.

I spent last week at a client site in Texas. That site's head of security used to be involved in securing America's nuclear weapons installations at the very highest levels. Be assured that we had some very interesting discussions, bits of which shall form a new submission of mine to Gates of Vienna.

Islam, by its very nature will always drive every situation to its most extreme outcome. It is the nature of the Islamic beast to nurture extremism and to polarize all who are exposed to Muslim predation.

What becomes evermore apparent is that the Free World must begin educating itself and making preparations for an immediate response to Islam's declaration of World War upon all other civilized nations.

Any delay in doing so only permits Islam to further erode our own personal liberties and allows Muslim nations to arm themselves with even more potent weapons. Retaliation against Islamic hostilities must be immediate and decisive. The outcome must be both clear and unalterable. All reprisal against Islam's encroachment upon the West must be in a form that forever establishes a permanent precedent for what Islam may expect regarding any future attempts at such invasion and colonization. The penalty must be so harsh and devastating that no Muslim will tolerate the preaching of jihad for fear of any repetition by the West of its terrible wrath.

I am increasingly convinced that this is the only alternative to abject surrender. There is no middle ground with Islam. The West is not responsible for this state of affairs. It is intrinsic to all dealings with Islam and, therefore, must become a central component of any strategies intended to deal with Muslim predation upon free people.

Just as Islam's intentions for the West involve the most ugly of outcomes, so must our response be to such a threat. Successful deterrence of Muslim hostility will require the attrition of so many different assets that Islam will no longer have sufficient resources to again wage such a war. Failure to adequately constrain the Islamic war machine will simply guarantee a repetition of what we currently face, save that there will an increased likelihood of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons being involved.

The potential death toll and cultural or environmental devastation that will result from a resurgent Islam some decades hence will make the current warfare I am recommending look like a Civil War re-encatment.

Anonymous said...

On February 12 the zealot,Wilders, was turned away at Heathrow Airport because of his inflammatory, racist anti-islamic views.The Neoconservatives in the USA is about to welcome the trash because that Zealot is ready to be used by them.He is fulfilling their agendas.he has a big problem with the word islam without knowing anything about this faith. He is completly ignorant and has no clue whatsoever about the meaning of Islam.When you take a close look at his hate speech, he is using things said by others, such as the sickly racist fallaci or the hypocrit Wafa Sultan.He does not know even one word in Arabic and he is putting himself expert of the Islamic Faith.Warning people evrywhere he goes about the real danger and the big threat of something he does ignore.

jtf said...

If you haven't read Oriana Fallaci's books "The Rage and the Pride" and "The Force of Reason", you it to yourself to do so. She was one brave, tough, no-holds-barred writer and she has perfectly captured our dilemna in these books. Wilders certainly deserves the award...God bless him.

jtf said...

Abdelkrim,

Are you suggesting that Wilders has "Islam" all wrong? Are you suggesting that Islam really is a force for peace, love and charity the world over? Has the religion been misrepresented from its very inception? Listen, if we've got it all wrong, then so do the bomb-throwers...somebody needs to educate them. Somebody needs to tell the imams who preach the overthrow of all cultures but Islamic ones that Islam really is a religion of tolerance and brotherhood for all men and women...and somebody better do it quick because things have gotten a little out of hand. In fact, I'm not sure that the words "warm" and "loving" automatically leap to the minds of us unwashed infidels who can only read the Koran in english. Please help us understand...and while you're at it, help your Muslim brothers with more...shall we say...extreme tendencies to understand as well. Good luck with that.

Gerardo Moochie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gerardo Moochie said...

My dear Abdelkrim:

One does not have to know Arabic or Farsi to understand the nature of Islam as it manifests itself in the world today. It has done a most obvious job portraying itself as a violent, intolerant, fascist political system - what many non-Muslims are realizing is not even worthy of the term "religion."

Those of us who are waking up to the true nature of Islam and warning others about it are said to be "criticizing Islam." Using the phrase "criticizing Islam" sounds like the criticism might be unjustified or mean spirited. In fact, we are informing others about the nature of Islam as manifested in Islam’s own words, own doctrine and own actions. Poor brainwashed souls like Abdelkrim might like to think that we are deaf, dumb, stupid and blind for not seeing Islam for what Islam itself demonstrates itself to be. Those of us who are speaking out about what we see are not critical of Islam - we are just informative about Islam.

I have a world of respect for Geert Wilders. And a world of pity for Abdelkrim, other Muslim apologists, the liberal media, and others who insist on being blind to the truth about Islam.

I am leaning more and more to the position that "moderate" Muslims (the live and let live Muslims) are in the minority, and radical Muslims (those who at the very least support the concept of imposing Sharia law on the rest of us, either stealthily or through violent jihad), are in the majority.

God help us all.

Anonymous said...

Abdelkrim,

You know what?there's love in Islam as you proclaim.I can't deny it.but the thing is,love in Islam is only concentrated within Islamic community.your allah can't give love to non-muslims,infidels or unbelievers.He never tried to love non-muslims as he loves fellow muslims.I'm convinced Islam can be defeated if we together defeat those dhimmi politicians,Islam-biased media and Islam apologists.then, we can continue move on to fight those jihadists,Islamic terrorists,Muslim extremists or whatever -ists.Hey fellow westerners,i ain't as lucky as you guys since i live in Malaysia,there's no freedom of speech.So,you guys support Wilders and uphold the freedom of speech for your liberty.As George Orwell once said: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”.

Anonymous said...

Abdelkrim,

If Wilders is so wrong about islam, being a violent and bloodthirsty religion, then prove your point. Talk with him, not with bullets, a bomb or a sword but with common sense. So far, I've seen muslims solve these 'problems' with a sword or with bombs. They kill people like Van Gogh cos they obviously cannot discuss with him. Are they afraid to loose a discussion? Let muslims be brave and debate with people like Wilders to prove he's wrong. With words, not with violence. And above all: with deeds of love. Cos so far I haven't seen a single muslim stretch out his hand to help others in need. All they do is yelling death and murder with redheaded faces. Or killing people with a sword or with bombs. And it's done by a small group of muslims.. and they are encouraged by the whole middle-east. Remember the plane that flew into the Twin Towers? The Palestinians were dancing in the streets and Osama Bin Laden was laughing. Islam a peaceful religion? Give me a break! Wilders is simply showing the facts, not lies. And once again, if he's lying about Islam, then convince him by helping people in need, giving them love. Cos you cannot expect people in the west to have respect for islam when you continue to kill people, to silence people who want to share their opinion about islam.