Why I Stand with Geert Wilders
by Daniel Pipes
National Review Online
January 19, 2010
Who is the most important European alive today? I nominate the Dutch politician Geert Wilders. I do so because he is best placed to deal with the Islamic challenge facing the continent. He has the potential to emerge as a world-historical figure.
That Islamic challenge consists of two components: on the one hand, an indigenous population's withering Christian faith, inadequate birthrate, and cultural diffidence, and on the other an influx of devout, prolific, and culturally assertive Muslim immigrants. This fast-moving situation raises profound questions about Europe: will it retain its historic civilization or become a majority-Muslim continent living under Islamic law (the Shari'a)?
Wilders, 46, founder and head of the Party for Freedom (PVV), is the unrivaled leader of those Europeans who wish to retain their historic identity. That's because he and the PVV differ from most of Europe's other nationalist, anti-immigrant parties.
The PVV is libertarian and mainstream conservative, without roots in neo-Fascism, nativism, conspiricism, antisemitism, or other forms of extremism. (Wilders publicly emulates Ronald Reagan.) Indicative of this moderation is Wilders' long-standing affection for Israel that includes two years' residence in the Jewish state, dozens of visits, and his advocating the transfer of the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem.
In addition, Wilders is a charismatic, savvy, principled, and outspoken leader who has rapidly become the most dynamic political force in the Netherlands. While he opines on the full range of topics, Islam and Muslims constitute his signature issue. Overcoming the tendency of Dutch politicians to play it safe, he calls Muhammad a devil and demands that Muslims "tear out half of the Koran if they wish to stay in the Netherlands." More broadly, he sees Islam itself as the problem, not just a virulent version of it called Islamism.
Finally, the PVV benefits from the fact that, uniquely in Europe, the Dutch are receptive to a non-nativist rejection of Shari'a. This first became apparent a decade ago, when Pim Fortuyn, a left-leaning former communist homosexual professor began arguing that his values and lifestyle were irrevocably threatened by the Shari'a. Fortuyn anticipated Wilders in founding his own political party and calling for a halt to Muslim immigration to the Netherlands. Following Fortuyn's 2002 assassination by a leftist, Wilders effectively inherited his mantle and his constituency.
The PVV has done well electorally, winning 6 percent of the seats in the November 2006 national parliamentary elections and 16 percent of Dutch seats in the June 2009 European Union elections. Polls now generally show the PVV winning a plurality of votes and becoming the country's largest party. Were Wilders to become prime minister, he could take on a leadership role for all Europe.
But he faces daunting challenges.
The Netherlands' fractured political scene means the PVV must either find willing partners to form a governing coalition (a difficult task, given how leftists and Muslims have demonized Wilders as a "right-wing extremist") or win a majority of the seats in parliament (a distant prospect).
Wilders must also overcome his opponents' dirty tactics. Most notably, they have finally, after 2½ years of preliminary skirmishes, succeeded in dragging him to court on charges of hate speech and incitement to hatred. The public prosecutor's case against Wilders opens in Amsterdam on January 20; if convicted, Wilders faces a fine of up to US$14,000 or as many as 16 months in jail.
Remember, he is his country's leading politician. Plus, due to threats against his life, he always travels with bodyguards and incessantly changes safe houses. Who exactly, one wonders, is the victim of incitement?
Although I disagree with Wilders about Islam (I respect the religion but fight Islamists with all I have), we stand shoulder-to-shoulder against the lawsuit. I reject the criminalization of political differences, particularly attempts to thwart a grassroots political movement via the courts. Accordingly, the Middle East Forum's Legal Project has worked on Wilders' behalf, raising substantial funds for his defense and helping in other ways. We do so convinced of the paramount importance to talk freely in public during time of war about the nature of the enemy.
Ironically, were Wilders fined or jailed, it would probably enhance his chances to become prime minister. But principle outweighs political tactics here. He represents all Westerners who cherish their civilization. The outcome of his trial and his freedom to speak has implications for us all.
Mr. Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.
This article was originally printed here.
Printer-friendly version
Comments
i have seen here the erroneous statement that peace only when the world is Islamic but Muslims kill more Muslims than anyone else you see they can not get along even with their own kind because of tribalism and different sects within Islam no violence is genetic as far i can see with the religion of peace now there in lies a paragon
Let me first say thank you for producing both DVD programs.
I have first hand experience with radicals that you describe. I spent one and a half years with twenty Saudia Arabian students in the mid 1980's. For the most part they were good people but there were approximately four of them that were extremely radical. The minority, eight American students were reminded almost daily by these four individuals how evil the West was and that we needed to convert to Islam.
Now, twenty five years later ( and especially after 9/11 ) I have come to fully understand their true meaning. You could not reason with them and there was no compromise. Being a young eighteen year old man I blew off what they were saying because they seemed backward, irrational, and lacking common sense. It concerns me that the wider population and the leadership in America may be making the same mistaken assumption that I did as an eighteen year old. The stakes are much higher now and it is imperative that people understand what we are up against. It would be tragic if our liberties we have in America are exactly the thing which allows this subversive group to destroy our way of life from the inside out.
Scott Showers
Just when the West began to breath again after the collapse of Communism, along came "Islam." All they want is EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. As has already been pointed out above, Islam is a deceitful means of life; it is NOT a religion and should not be treated as a religion. In the United States, Muslim groups are growing with the intent of doing one thing and one thing only: Take over our country along with the rest of the world and force us to become barbarians as were the Nazis. The Nazis and the Arabs had much in common, including the "right" to be Judenfrei. Islam, not content to "simply" be Judenfrei, wants to be free to destroy any other group that isn't them. I don't fear them; I have an overwhelming dislike of them. Recently some shopping malls in my area are banning groups of Muslims because they act in negative ways, treating female clerks as dung and refusing to control their male children. As much as I do not like ignoring anyone, I let Muslims know of my disdain of their dress and mannerisms. NOTHING IN THEIR SO-CALLED HOLY BOOK says that women are to be treated as so much sewage, yet the women gladly give in. Or do they give the impression of being glad? We have had to put some Arabs in prisons for beating their wives and daughters into "submission," which they say is what Islam means: Submission.
I just pray that the United States comes to its mind before it is too late. It is unfortunate that no Muslims can be trusted, but they have brought this upon themselves by deliberately lying to get what they want.
In the same breath with the above, a disease has arisen in our country called Palinism. She distorts the truth until it is not recognizable. She is an ignorant rabble rouser who appeals to people who need to protect their knuckles when they walk. She does not care if what she says is true or not; she blissfully chatters to people like her: Ignorant bigots.
I fear her as much as I distrust Islam.
Before one ignorantly declares Islam is a religion of peace, it would be advisable to find out EXACTLY what the Islamic concept of peace REALLY IS.
It is FAR from the "common" Western concept of peace, where we "all get along"... by accepting our differences, respecting each human for who they are, flaws and all, and observing tolerance, even for those who we don't agree with, as long as we are also tolerated, and reasonable boundaries are maintained in society.
For Islam, "peace" means EVERYONE living under sharia, or strict Islamic law, and those who refuse are simply DEAD, or to be made that way post haste. Not a shred of tolerance or respect for differing viewpoints...
Think long and hard, the clock is ticking. And be sure you know what the words REALLY mean, before you nod in agreement.
There is a reason these two "definitions" of "peace" cannot peacefully co-exist!
I completely agree with your position, having studied the Islam faith and most of the Koran. You are exactly correct, "peace" to Muslims is only to come when Islam is in control world wide and Sharia Law is in force and enforced. Before that we are, for the Muslims, in a world of war. They can do ANYTHING [lie, cheat, rape, steal, etc..."do not be friends with Christians and Jews.""Lie in wait for them and cut off their heads"]that furthers the cause of Islam against the "Infidels". All who are not Muslim are "Infidels". Islam is in no way a religion of peace; it is the most intolerant "religion" on the face of the earth. Muslims do not assimilate. It took Spain some 600 years to realize this, before they decided that the only solution to the "Muslim Dilemma" was to send them all back across the Mediterranean.
I hope and pray that our leaders will listen to the terrorist experts, such as Steve Emerson, and the warnings they have been giving us and our legislators...also Brigitte Gabrielle author of the book Because They Hate, who lived through the Islam takeover in Lebonon, after the Muslims applied the strategy of increasing in poluation 7 to 1...the same strategy the Muslims applied in Europe and are now applying in the USA.
It is my position that the so-called terrorist extremists are not extreme Muslims, rather they are de-facto Fundamental Muslims, simply following the direction of "Allah" through Muhammend. In my opinion, most Muslims are the victims of a forced mind set/brainwashing, victims of an evil political system that claims, falsely, to be a religion. It really is very similar to Naziism and Communism. The problem is we can not tolerate complacent Muslims who refuse to help us out of fear!
Our leaders need to get their heads out of the sand and stop projecting their own way of thinking on the Muslims...the god of Islam is not the same as the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob; rather their god is the pagan Moon god of pre-Islamic Arabia, the only pagan god that Muhammed kept after getting rid of the many other pagan gods, when he founded the Islam faith in the 600s. It can not possibly be the same god; Christianity's God says to love your enemy. Islam's god says to cut off the heads of all Christians and Jews...totally contradictory tenets...and so many other differences.
I can see the set up in the country of Australia where they have talked of setting up sharia laws and schools and mosque are a determining factor that they will rule the area unbeknown to surrounding neighbors. Westerners are bewitched to the saying the that the muslem religion is peaceful. if all the muslems were told who will their loyalties side with if made to choose, most will choose their religion over their country. western countries are taught to live free and Isalm teaches to be a slave unto death. They will pretend for peace to our faces but as soon as you turn they will stab you in the back because their Koran said so. it is just a matter of time when all hell will break after they are satified they have fooled enough nations to their ideology.
Mr. Pipes is a brilliant voice in the fight to stop advance of violent Islamic extremism in the West. I would counter his point by saying that I respect Muslims as human beings but I fight against Islam as an ideology because it is the toxic theology of verses such as Qur'an 9:5 ("Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them") that provide the legal and religious mandate for Islamic violence. Nonetheless he is totally right to support amd defend Geeet Wilders.
Wilders should be considered the John the Baptist of the anti-jihad movement. He is the voice of one calling out in the wilderness for a righteous response to Islan's encroachment in the West. We would do well to listen to him. May he be vindicated in court.
We totally agree with you.
My husband is Spanish and together we have been living in anti-semitic Spain for over thirty-four years now...
We admire Geert Wilders greatly.
Keep pressing on!!!!!!
Yours sincerely,
Elisabeth (Els) Westerman
As I watch the indifference most Europeans show to the issue of the remolding of their societies to fit the demands of Islamic immigrants, it is refreshing to read of Mr Wilder's attempt to raise public awareness of this issue. Across Europe, Islamists aided by leftists have been successful in silencing the voices of the few who had the courage to speak out charging them with racism. The actual racism is that of these immigrants who reject the values of the nations they have chosen to move to.Leftists in an almost reflexive manner support these immigrants as they attempt to reject the core values of their societies, including free speech. One must only look to the recent "Danish cartoons" incident for an example of just what this means. Thank you Mr Wilders.