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Chip East / Reuters, file
Dutch politician Geert Wilders speaks Sept. 11, 2010, at a New York demonstration against the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque in lower Manhattan on the ninth anniversary of the attacks on New York and Washington.
Anti-Islam groups in America have provided financial support to Dutch politician Geert Wilders, an anti-immigration campaigner who is seeking re-election to the Dutch parliament this week, a Reuters investigation has revealed.
While that is not illegal in the Netherlands, it sheds light on the international connections of Wilders, whose Freedom Party is the least transparent Dutch parliamentary group and a rallying point for Europe's far right.
Wilders' party is self-funded, unlike other Dutch parties that are subsidized by the government. It does not, therefore, have to meet the same disclosure requirements.
Groups in the United States seeking to counter Islamic influence in the West say they funded police protection and paid legal costs for Wilders, whose party is polling in fourth place before the Sept. 12 election.
Some ideas gain tranction
Wilders' ideas -- calling for a total halt to non-Western immigration and bans on Muslim headscarfs and the construction of mosques -- have struck a chord in mainstream politics beyond the Netherlands.
France banned clothing that covers the face in April 2011 and Belgium followed suit in July of the same year. Switzerland barred the construction of new minarets following a referendum in 2009.
The Middle East Forum, a pro-Israeli think tank based in Philadelphia, funded Wilders' legal defense in 2010 and 2011 against Dutch charges of inciting racial hatred, its director Daniel Pipes said.
The Middle East Forum has a stated goal, according to its website, of protecting the "freedom of public speech of anti-Islamist authors, promoting American interests in the Middle East and protecting the constitutional order from Middle Eastern threats." It sent money directly to Wilders' lawyer via its Legal Project, Pipes said.
Represented by Dutch criminal lawyer Bram Moscowitz, Wilders successfully defended himself against the charges, which were brought by prosecutors in Amsterdam on behalf of groups representing minorities from Turkey, Morocco and other countries with Muslim populations.
The case heard in October 2010 was filed in response to Wilders' comments in the Dutch media about Muslims and his film "Fitna," which interlays images of terrorist attacks with quotations from the Koran and prompted protests by Muslims in Islamic countries worldwide. The court found he had stayed within the limits of free speech.
Dutch candidates hold debate before elections
Pipes declined to say how much his group paid for Wilders' defense.
Moscowitz declined to discuss payments for Wilder's defense citing client confidentiality.
Wilders said in an emailed statement that his legal expenses were paid for with the help of voluntary donations from defenders of freedom of speech.
"I do not answer questions of who they are and what they have paid. This could jeopardize their safety," Wilders said.
Robin Utrecht / EPA, file
Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, kicks off his election campaign in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Aug. 24, ahead of the country's Sept. 12 general elections.
Visits to the united States
Wilders, 49, became a member of Dutch parliament in 2006, campaigning against Islam, which he calls a threat to Dutch culture and Western values. He called Islam a violent political ideology and vowed never to enter a mosque, "not in 100,000 years". His party gained 24 seats in the 150-seat lower house in June 2010.
He has been under 24-hour security for eight years after receiving death threats from radical Muslim groups in the Netherlands and abroad. Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik cited anti-Islamic comments by Wilders in an online manifesto that sought to justify his crimes. Wilders has denounced Breivik and his actions.
David Horowitz, who runs a network of Los Angeles-based conservative groups and a website called FrontPage magazine, said he paid Wilders fees for making two speeches, security costs during student protests and overnight accommodation for his Dutch bodyguards during a 2009 U.S. trip.
Rabbi warns Dutch populist Wilders over ritual slaughter ban
Horowitz said he paid Wilders for one speech in Los Angeles and one at Temple University in Philadelphia. He declined to specify the amounts, but said that Wilders had received "a good fee."
When Wilders' Philadelphia appearance sparked student protests, Horowitz said, he paid a special security fee of about $1,500 to the Philadelphia police department. Horowitz said he also paid for overnight accommodation for four or five Dutch government bodyguards accompanying Wilders on the trip.
Wilders said in response: "I am frequently asked to speak abroad. Whenever possible I accept these invitations. I never ask for a fee. However, sometimes the travel and accommodation expenses are paid. My personal security is always paid for by the Dutch government."
Dutch populist Wilders bets on anti-euro vote
Pipes and Horowitz denied funding Wilders' political activities in Holland. Both run non-profit, tax exempt research and policy organizations which, under U.S. tax laws, are forbidden from giving direct financial backing to any political candidate or party. U.S. law does allow such groups to support policy debates financially.
During Wilders' visit to Los Angeles, where Horowitz runs an organization called the David Horowitz Freedom Center, Horowitz said he organized an event at which Danish cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammed were auctioned. He said he did not remember how much money this event raised or what happened to the proceeds.
Horowitz agreed with the Dutchman's repeated, public comparison of the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf. Comparing the two works was a "fair analogy," Horowitz said. He said Wilders was "fighting the good fight."
Barred from Britain in 2009
Horowitz said U.S. backers helped Wilders raise money to pay legal fees to fight a ban from visiting Britain in 2009, where he planned to screen Fitna.
The British government said at the time: "The Government opposes extremism in all its forms. The decision to refuse Wilders admission was taken on the basis that his presence could have inflamed tensions between our communities and have led to inter-faith violence."
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
Wilders won an appeal in the British courts in October 2009 when the ban was overturned.
Wilders has other supporters in the United States, such as Pamela Geller, who runs Stop Islamization of America and has backed Wilders in public statements. Geller remains a supporter. She says she does not provide Wilders with financial assistance.
Wilders has not revealed how his political activities are paid for. Freedom Party officials have said he has no personal funds and almost entirely relies on foreign donations. Like other Dutch political parties, members of parliament for the Freedom Party have been allocated 165,000 euros ($211,200) per year for expenses. Former Freedom Party officials speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters that the money, nearly 4 million euros ($5.1 million) per year, went to the party and has not been accounted for.
More European coverage on NBCNews.com
Wilders said in his emailed response that former Freedom Party officials making such allegations were bitter and spiteful. "These people have other motives than telling the truth," he said.
"Our party has a 60 euro ($76) annual budget. The rumors about millions of euros in sponsoring are complete nonsense. A Freedom Party-related foundation receives donations from Dutch or foreign sources, but these are modest amounts of money and certainly never millions," it continued.
The Dutch government turned down requests for additional information about Freedom Party finances.
"I do not possess relevant information or documents" about the Freedom party finances or campaign contributions because the party does not receive subsidies, Dutch Minister for Internal Affairs Liesbeth Spies said in a written response.
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Many Europeans are concerned that Muslim immigration is overwhelming their own historical cultures. I mean, like Henry the VIII was a miserable murdering so-and-so, but he was ENGLAND'S miserable, murdering so-and-so.
Even I do not like religions (as well as polititians and parties) and I do not accept left or right radicalisms, the world do not need anti-islam (or anti-muslim) approaches.
What the world and the humanity need (urgently indeed) is a clear, united and decisive anti-fundamentalism approach.
We already are immersed in a WWIII. The lack of union and decision among the countries is allowing the fundamentalism (and the radicalims) grow out of control. Russia, China and Iran and their (allies) are, of course, supporting them in different ways, with a diversity of means.
So, we should ask, what's the next step?
P.S.: Yes, immigration that do not wish to integrate into the society and culture of the countries they choose to live in, should avoid immigration and be peacefully at their original homes, with their traditions and culture.
Geronimous, you sound like someone who believes there should be one world government. Like we should all just blend into a smooth, seamless blob of banal drones, existing just to keep the hive humming along. Scary, man. Scary.
you sound like a muslim lover,why dont you go to their country and live.
Calm down Ed Wilson99. You sound like a racist. Or at the least, a bigot
People need to take their meds and calm down.
Here's a post I have for the Muslim community, and the rest of the world.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16
Smile! God loves you.
When was the last time you met God. If you had met HIM/HER you wouldn't be posting here
Edward-1730176 do you realize the 3 crazy religions worship the same god? They just strongly differ in the role of their prophets.
Just imagine the controversy and uproar if a European Muslim group funded an American political party. Or, indeed, if any European political group was funding and supporting any cause in the US - whether it be a political cause or an anti-religious group. What would be the fuss if a Dutch Christian group funded and supported an anti-Mormon, anti-Amish or anti-Hindu political party, for example.
It's hard not to think there might be a double-standard at times.
...Jeez! ...I thought Obama WAS funded by the Muslims!
When the Amish, Mormon, or Hindu's start car booming and downing
planes in the name of their religion then we talk about them. The Islam faith is a terrorist group by
the teaching of their own Leaders. If they follow the tenant of their own faith then they must kill
or subjugate all non Muslims.
Geert Wilders has many valid points and concerns but there really is a dangerously thin line between "racial hatred" and Nationalism. Islam needs to change from within, Muslims must prove they honor human life more than the Koran and also dump the Mohammad guy.
You've missed my point entirely: would Americans take kindly to being told what to believe by an external pressure group? For example, would Americans like it if a fundamentalist British Christian group funded Obama's campaign to prevent a Mormon from becoming president?
Somehow I don't think so.
Mormon, Hindu and Amish were examples only (I threw in Amish as one of the most innocuous of religious groups - despite the recent beard-shaving attacks). However, Hindus do engage in acts of terrorism particularly in India including the bombing of crowded marketplaces. Mormonism has not engaged in terrorism (as far as I can recall) - although it could be accused of having some institutionalized racist teachings which were only rescinded in 1978.
Alarmingly you accuse the entire Islamic Faith of being a terrorist group: to blame the few thousand members of al-Qaeda of being representative of all 1.6 billion Muslims is like claiming that Fred Phelps or George W. Bush or JFK are representative of all 2.4 billion Christians; or that Charles Manson and Albert DeSalvo are representative of all 314 million Americans.
All faiths proselytize: that's what they do; it's what their followers do. If someone thinks they've found a great idea for a way of life they want to share it and encourage others to share it - whether that's Islam, Christianity, Atheism, Socialism, Fascism, Vegetarianism or the American Values that Condoleeza Rice was promoting at the recent Republican Convention.
The tenets of the Islamic Faith do not require they kill or subjugate all non-Muslims: under Islamic law non-Muslims are allowed to practice their religion safely and they and their property are protected. 'The People Of The Book' (Christians, Jews, etc.) are accorded special protection as being from the same Abrahamic lineage. Muslims attacking Jews and Christians for any other reason than self-defence is prohibited. However, Muslims are not allowed to be subjugated by another religion but to be subjects of a State is acceptable.
The Qur'an states "Let there be no compulsion in the religion: Surely the Right Path is clearly distinct from the crooked path".
The Gospel of Matthew states: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen".
However, Jesus did not instruct anyone to force another to follow His teachings. Both proselytize; neither advocates force.
Wilders does have some valid concerns: there is an immigration problem across Europe - and not just from outside the continent: Britain has taken nearly a million Poles (alone) in the last decade which has caused pressure on various communities and has caused problems for the Roman Catholic church in Britain who can't recruit Priests fast enough.
I agree that Islam needs to change especially from within BUT proving they honour the Qur'an more than human life is a tricky thing to qualify: did St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, honour his Faith more than human life? Does a Christian who shoots dead an abortion doctor honour the Bible more than human life? The Qur'an is, according to Islamic tradition, a revealed text; part-history, part-instruction book- building on and incorporating the Jewish and Christian texts. The tone and content of many Islamic laws are very similar to the Jewish laws of the Old Testament: some of which more zealous Christians chose to invoke. I know many Christians who believe the death penalty is abhorrent to Christianity and therefore anyone who believes in capital punishment cannot be a true Christian. This form of retributive justice is firmly rooted in the Torah sections of Jewish, Christian and Muslim Faiths.
The Qur'an is, according to Islamic tradition, the revealed word of God via the Angel Gabriel (Jibril). It is therefore considered infallible.
Muhammad cannot be dumped by Islam or Muslims: he is their final Prophet, following on from Moses, Jesus, Abraham, etc. Dumping Muhammad would be similar to Jews or Christians deciding to dump Moses!
The main problems that Islam and some Muslims (I live in a country where nearly all Muslims are moderate and practice their Faith in the same moderate way as the indigenous CofE and RC communities do) have to deal with include a lack of centralized leadership (whether you like Popes or not there are advantages to having them); significant proportions of Middle Eastern Islam have 'issues' with the decline of Islamic power over the last 600 years; the problem of living in a world where people are free to criticize Faiths (I must admit I do sometimes get a bit miffed at some of the attacks I read on Christianity); problems of integration into Western countries which hold values which are different to theirs and the acceptance that this is the way of their new adopted country, etc.
Christianity and Judaism have, mainly, evolved theologically over recent centuries: traumas in the Islamic world have managed to stop this happening in Islam.
Islam went from being a superpower (of the then known world) and advanced in many fields (science, medicine, mathematics, art, architecture, etc.) but experienced a slow decline over centuries and ossified in the mindset of around 1300-1400 becoming paranoid that everyone was out to get them from all sides - which Western Europe managed to successfully give grounds for.
It is unfortunate that many moderate Muslim imams across Europe who are trying to find the way forward continually get drowned out by the tiny number of violent hate-filled extremists. Hate-filled extremists always make good copy. War, terrorism and violence sell news-stories. Peace doesn't. When did you last see a headline about Bhutan!
The single biggest problem for Islam is actually the same problem that can be found in Christianity: the Qur'an and the Bible are vast complicated books. You can take out of context lines and phrases and justify anything you want.
To justify the Crusades (still a significant trauma for the Muslim world - Bush's use of the word 'Crusade' only perpetuated their paranoia) it was decided that a Biblical injunction was needed, not only that, but one from the New Testament and from Jesus himself. The best that could be come up with was this from Luke 14:23 - "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." 'Compel them to come in' was considered enough to justify the use of force.
But surely one of the best misuses of Scripture has to be from Exodus: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, Wound for wound, stripe for stripe".
Often used by Christians to justify many retributions.
But how does this hold with the words of Christ in Matthew: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also".
My points are simple: Americans would not appreciate a foreign pressure group funding partisan American groups for their own ends - so why do some Americans think it is acceptable to interfere in other democratic countries' internal politics; Islam cannot be bundled into one neat group labelled evil/terrorist; all religious, political, idealogical texts can be used selectively to justify whatever a persuasive speaker wants.
This is the most intelligent thing I've read on this site in a long time. Bravo sir, bravo.
Few read novels when the forum is for posts.
A sound, optimistic post
I'm as far from the far right in any country as I can be. But I support Mr. Wilder's work in announcing the primary threat to our ways of life and cultures in the western democracies as Islam. While I am grateful for the U.S. welcoming my grandparents from Russia over 100 years ago and for the melting pot that this country used to be, we have a venomous asp in that pot called Islam. I don't care who says he's a moderate and not part of a terrorist group, jihad, the conversion of the world to follow the teachings of Mohammad or death to the "infidels" is all they are about. By any and all means, convincing with their logic, by lying, or by force that is the duty of the Muslim. If we don't stop this horde now and ship them all back to their original homelands, we as Jews, Christians, Atheists, Wiccans, Buddhists, Hindus, Confucionists, and any other religion you can name are doomed to the scimitar or the beheading knife.
Islam is not the downfall of the West, it is the politicians and their greed that is crippling the West. It appears that majority of Western Nations like to group people together and blame them for all issues plaguing society, but this is not reality.
kountry, if you actually believe what you wrote you ARE far right of center. If you've been following Wilders' positions on Islam for the last five years you'd know that they ring the same as the hate-filled rhetoric of the Arian Nation, Neo-Nazi Party, or the KKK. Man, you need to take a reality tablet or something.
@JacjBNimble1. I too have been following Wilder. Let me suggest to you Sir. You need a double dosage of reality tablet .
Jack, as much as I despise the KKK and Neo-Nazis, they are not a worldwide movement, with terrorist attacks reported almost every week.
It is true that an overwhelming number of immigrant Muslims in Europe are taking advantage and abusing local immigration policies by practicing polygamy, and receiving entitlements for all of their children and wives. They are using the the progressive policy of cultural diversity in an effort to grow and strengthen Islam. That is all a woman is to a Muslim in middle eastern culture, nothing more than a means for spreading and growing Islam by having as many children as possible, regardless of the woman's health or means for basic care.
I don't think its right to campaign on being Anti-Islam, but I do think the global community needs to watch closely the influence of Islam, and adjust their immigration policies accordingly.
Anyone with common sense can see that the threat of Islamic terrorism and militancy goes much farther than isolated extremists.
I had the impression that the republcans were focusing all of their money on Romney's campaign. Surprise, surprise!
Wilders speaks the truth so the Politically Correct Media Elite can only resort to him bieng "anti-Muslim". The Media Elite's code word for speaking the truth is "anti-Muslim". Inshalla, there will be more politicians like Wilders
Ligeti, you need to write your book somewhere else..You spouted certain things from the quran but not others that are just as important..Muslims must abide by the quran,or they are not good muslims..See,I saved so much typing in saying the right thing..And JackBNimble1, you certainly know nothing of what you spew! By your attitude,we can tell you are full of hate,so let's quit being a hypocrite..!! You go Geert!! Stay safe...Muslims need to go back to the country that spews their stupidity..They are not happy unless they are causing people grief..
Speaking of spewing stupidity...
Patriotic Girl. Thanks for saving me the effort.
I wonder if the Muslim movement has to answer the same questions about where its funding is coming from. Saudi Arabia spends a lot of $ promoting its brand of fanatical Islam, why isnt that funding questioned?
Because without the Saudis there would not be any bases for our military to function in that area. The Saudis have to play both sides. If they don't help the fanatics the fanatics turn on the Saudis and commit mayhem. But if they play the game right and say OK we will help you and you, but leave us out of the argument it gets appreciation from both enemies. Add to that the influx Big Business (Oil) connects itself to their way of life and they'll not want any part of it. I once was told of how the Saudis do not do medial work or jobs. Most of the construction and such work is done by immigrants. The Saudis have some kind of socialism that sounds great. Does anyone out there have more info on this type of governing?
Europe is finally waking up...now if only America would!! Since 9-11 the US State Dept has done nothing but support the creation of new Muslim states...North Sudan..a Shiite Iraq...Kosovo!! Over 700,000 NEW people are legally admitted into the US every year...many of them Muslims...and based on the experiences of the UK...future terrorists..or the parents of...ALL Muslims should be deported from the Western World..there is no room in the 21st century for a 12th century religion!!
The Muslims should not be allowed to build there ,if they want to build let them go back home and build,we dont need them here.
Agreed. Just because they have the legal right to build there doesnt mean they are right to do so. If they were of a religion of compassion and understanding they would not be so insensitive themselves as to how this can be perceived by the masses. Cant Muslims be defined as insensitive or isnt that politically correct?
the muslims are trying to institute sharia law in parts of Denmark
that's what the media in this country won't tell us.
when they do it's usally too late!!!!
Muslims in the west are the opposite of value added.America is made up of all peoples.But this,the greatest of societies EVER ,IS based on christianity and western thinking.We need NO MORE MUSLIMS,from anywhere
Living in Holland and knowing Geert Wilders and his politics, you are all crazy if you support him. We haven't seen this kind of rhetoric since the Third Reich. He has even set up hate groups against Polish workers. Don't be blind...even England tried to ban him from entering their country.
As for Europe "waking up" about the Muslim problem (remember the "Jewish problem" right before the holocaust?), I think we have received more of a wake up call from right wing murders in Norway than our Muslim citizens causing problems. Yes, America received a wound from radical Islamists, but Europe has received many wounds from radical right wingers. Over 9 million so....
As a Dutch citizen I am happy to announce that last night Geert Wilders and his so called 'Freedom Party' have lost 9 seats in our House of Representatives, bringing his total number of seats back from 24 to 15. (Out of a total 150 seats). It is almost impossible for him to be part of our next government.
To the American people here who post all the previous comments, note that Geert Wilders is an atheist, and except for his points on Islam and Israel disagrees with probably all other ideas that the American Republican Party has.
Geert Wilders has done great harm to my Country. The Netherlands was known as a tolerant country, who accepted many cultures and religions. This has changed because of him. Make no mistake, anyone who attaches any value to the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution should oppose him. He actually wants to change our Constitution and take out the parts which protects the Freedom of Religion and Ethnicity. He wants to rob people of their nationality based on their religion.
Stopping immigration from Mu-s-lim countries has nothing to do with terror. Each country has the right to determined it's future and characteristics. There are hundred of millions of Mu-s-lims that will be glad to come to the west. If the current trend continues; within a short period of time the west will be colonized by Mu-s-lims. A country has the right to have a selective immigration policy. A country has the right to preserve its nature.