Apr 07 2008
Dutch Court upholds free speech
Amazing, the things that are litigable these days. This wasn’t the public prosecution hinted at by the Dutch government last week but “merely” a private suit filed by the Netherlands Islamic Foundation to have criticism of Islam deemed an “incitement” under Dutch law and thereby worthy of being censored. Note the rationale:
The NIF wanted to know if Wilders had broken the law with his public declaration in August last year that the Koran is a fascist book and comments that Mohammed was a barbarian.
According to the judge, the term fascism must be seen in a broader context. The NIF associated it with the Holocaust and ‘other evil practices from Nazi Germany’. But fascism should, said the judge, be seen as ‘a collective term for ideologies which fundamentally embrace a totalitarian political system which leaves no room for people with other ideas’.
When it came to Mohammed, the NIF was unable during the hearing to deny that he was a barbarian, reports ANP. Furthermore, the organisation was not able to disprove the fact that Islam consists of beliefs that are in contradiction to democratic principles, the judge said.
Exit question via Sugiero: Will the judge be fatwa’d next week?
A serious No Brainer….
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Rosemary’s Thoughts, WayWard Fundamentalist Christian, Right Truth, Shadowscope, DragonLady’s World, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, Chuck’s Place, D equals S, Woman Honor Thyself, DragonLady’s World, Pirate’s Cove, Celebrity Smack, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, A Newt One- Don’t miss this show!, Rant it Up, Right Voices, Stageleft, A Blog For All, 123beta, Maggie’s Notebook, Adam’s Blog, The Christian Nationalist, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, McCain Blogs, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Oblogatory Anecdotes - Photoshop Montage/Open Trackbacks, Wolf Pangloss, Beagle Scout, Tilting At Windmill Farms, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
