Cymro

Some of you may have heard that the UK maintains a list of foreign individuals whom are banned from entering the country for promoting hatered.

Well, the UK Immigration and Asylum tribunal recently overturned a ban on the Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who was denied entry to the UK last year. He's responsible for a controversial anti-Islamic film, and is also trying to get the Koran banned from the Netherlands.

Now you can make your own mind as to whether or not the man promotes hatred - he calls himself a defender of freedom and democracy, but you can't help but sympathise with him a little bit when you look at how members of the UK's muslim community greeted him:

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Controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders has hailed his arrival in the UK as a "victory for freedom of speech".

He told a packed press conference in Westminster he was "proud of the UK asylum and immigration tribunal" for overturning the ban.

And he repeated his criticism of Muslim ideology and defended his call for the Koran to be banned in Holland.

His press conference was moved inside amid angry scenes, with demonstrators chanting "Wilders go to hell".

About 40 Muslim protesters gathered outside the Abbey Gardens buildings, opposite the Houses of Parliament, where the hastily rearranged press conference was held.

Held back by a police line, and surrounded by camera crews from around the world, they chanted slogans such as "Sharia for the UK" and "Freedom go to hell" and held up placards saying: "Sharia for the Netherlands" and "Islam will be superior".

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"Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working.

"But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

Bean

I don't feel sympathy for him because a few muslim extremists decided to show up and give him shit. He's still a bigot. The extremists on the other hand share as much of my ire and disdain as he does.

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"I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing."

--James T. Kirk

Cymro

In what sense? As far as I'm aware he's done little more than attack Islam in much the same way as politicians attack opposing points of view - a mix of some truth, prejudiced interpretation of information, and outright lies. The controversy seems to stem entirely from the fact that he's targeting religious beliefs - he'd attract far less attention if he were trying to ban The Communist Manifesto and Che Guervara T-Shirts. If we didn't put religion on a pedestal simply because it's adherents demand it, you and I would never have heard of him.

__________________
"Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working.

"But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

Bean

There's a difference between valid criticism of a religion and seeking to have it banned outright. I share the same criticisms of Islam that many people do. I also have many similar criticisms with Christianity. I don't however think that the answer lies in banning the bible or the Koran. It's contrary to not only civil liberties and human rights, but the fact that he's singled out Islam leads me to believe it's racially based as are most cases like this.

Perhaps I'm wrong about his motivations, but the fact of the matter is that calling for a book *ANY* book to be banned simply because a group of radicals have used it to justify heinous acts is simply ridiculous in a modern civilized society.

Bigot? Perhaps not. Complete idiot? Absolutely.

__________________
"I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing."

--James T. Kirk

Cymro

Or it could have something to do with Islam's high profile as well as the fact that many of it's adherents' practices offend western sensibilities - we don't know. I don't hate the Irish but I have plenty of misgivings about Catholicism.

But it is important that the distinction be made, lest we fall into the trap of the religionists. Religious belief is a choice like any other.

__________________
"Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working.

"But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."