A report on the Wilders trial from Evelyn Markus in the Netherlands (thanks to Pamela):
Geert wants to bring in 17 witnesses, from Holland, UK, Israel, and US, among them Wafa Sultan, Robert Spencer..., Afshin Ellian, Arabist Hans Jansen, Sheikh Al-Qaradawi (who put a fatwa on Wafa), Mohammed Bouyeri (who killed Theo van Gogh) and imam Fawaz from Holland, who put a fatwa on Ayaan. The public prosecutors asked the judges to downsize the list and to skip Mohammed Bouyeri and some others.The public prosecutors only want to bring in Geert Wilders as their witness, to which Geert's lawyer objected. Geert wants to make a statement in court, but doesn't want to be interviewed by the public prosecutors. He has the right to keep silent when they interview him.
The session has just ended. At the end of the session the judges gave Geert the opportunity for closing remarks. Geert spoke from the bottom of his heart and passionately asked the court to defend freedom in the Netherlands. He also stated: if expressions reflect the truth, how could they be criminal? So I ask this court to allow me to bring all my witnesses, so I will have the chance to prove I speak the truth in my expressions [about Islam].
The judges will get back with their decision on the number of witnesses, the timetable and the exact location of the trial in a public session on February 3.
A large crowd gathered outside the courthouse to support Wilders:
This checklist is no parody
Geert Akbar
If the truth is outlawed, only outlaws will have the truth.
Robert, will you be going? I sure hope so :)
Addresses of Dutch Embassies and Consulates:-
http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Netherlands
"How to travel by train or ferry from London to Amsterdam & the Netherlands"
http://www.seat61.com/Netherlands.htm
How surprised might Joe Lieberman be to moderate a conversation between Usama bin Laden and Irshad Manji on the the correct interpretation of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Or Dr. Ayman al Zawahari and Dr. Zuhdi Jasser.
Or Yusuf al Qaradawi and George Bush.
Or Khalid Sheik Mohammad and Tony Blair.
Or Adam Ghadan and Togo West.
Or Malik Nidal Hasan and General George Casey.
Or Anjem Choudary and Congressman Keith Ellison.
Or Cat Stevens and Karen Armstrong.
Or The Muslim Students Association and John McCain.
Or Robert Spencer and the Dutch Parliament.
Or....
Could someone please clue me in?
1. In a criminal trial in the Netherlands, a defendant does not have the right to call witnesses in his defense, but instead must ask permission to do so? This is at great variance with American law.
2. Will the triers of the facts be this panel of 8 judges or will this be a jury trial?
Interesting to see a protest against the European Union, too. Its draconian 'anti-discrimination' laws are the greatest threats to freedom we've seen in decades.
"The public prosecutors only want to bring in Geert Wilders as their witness," ...
For now, Geert is the one standing trial here ...but once the judges allow however many witnesses to speak on Geert's behalf, then islam will move into the spotlight. No wonder the prosecutors object.
In a criminal trial in the Netherlands, a defendant does not have the right to call witnesses in his defense, but instead must ask permission to do so?
The court, as far as I know, has quite extensive power to limit the number of vitnessess.
Yes, the arcane cornes of our legal systems are being tested by these zealots/ignorants in their attempt to stifle freedom.
Photoshop opportunity.
See that photo of the large crowd of Wilders supporters?
I'm sure someone clever can photoshop into that crowd, or into a different picture of that crowd (the picture here is probably not the only one) additional figures that will be clearly recognisable as 1. Pym Fortuyn 2. Theo Van Gogh 3. Hugo Grotius 4. C Snouk Hurgronje 5. Benedict Spinoza 6. Corrie and Elisabeth ten Boom and their father (Geert is a lover of Zion; his campaign against jihad and sharia is *also* a campaign in defence both of Israel and of Jews everywhere; the ten Booms risked and indeed gave their lives to protect Jews against the Nazis...Nazis who admired, and are admired by, Muslims). Perhaps Ilan Halimi, who was murdered by Muslim gangsters in Paris, and little Kriss Donald, who was also murdered by Muslim gangsters in Glasgow, should be included.
Turn it into a painting, Rembrandt-style. A great cloud of witnesses. Then make it into a poster and stick it up on walls all over Europe.
(Remember the scene in the church at the end of the film 'Places in the Heart', where during the communion service one sees, taking part, characters who have died in the course of the film?).
Post scriptum: here is what the great Dutchman Hugo Grotius had to say about Islam -
This religion (Mahometanism), altogether contrived for the shedding of blood, delights much in rites and ceremonies,
*and would be believed without all liberty of enquiry thereinto*."
Hugo Grotius (1583-1645)
"The Truth of Christian Religion by Hugo Grotius," Book 6, section II, p. 169, translated by Simon Patrick, printed by J.L. for Luke Meredith, 1700.
And here is Benedictus Spinoza, renowned Jewish philosopher of the Enlightenment era, who found asylum in the Netherlands:
"Mahomet was an imposter, since he completely abolishes the freedom which is granted by that universal religion revealed by the natural and prophetic light, and which I have shown ought to be fully granted."
Benedictus de Spinoza (1632-1677)
"Spinoza, The Letters," Ep 43, p. 241, translated by Samuel Shirley, Hackett Publishing, 1995.
These wise words by Spinoza and Grotius might be attached to the poster of witnesses, when it is circulated across Europe.
With this question to the Dutch prosecutors: are Spinoza and Grotius also in the dock alongside Geert Wilders? Are their books to be burned, or banned, because of what they said - truthfully - about Islam and Mohammed?
I have a further suggestion for all future protests to do with the Wilders trial.
Let every person who attends carry a white rose (of course, it's currently the dead of winter in Europe, so the rose might have to be the artificial variety, but never mind).
Geert Akbar (on one of the signs)
Love it!
The Danish govt. must be nuts if it thinks that shutting up one politician will accomplish anything. Too bad for them, the U.S. still enjoys freedom of speech, and all Danish people can use the Internet to find the truth about Islam online. Tell all the English-speaking Danes you know about the Historyscoper's Islam history site that lays out all the key facts with links, and see if they can shut that up :) http://go.to/islamhistory
I can sum up Geert Wilders question in one paragraph:
The truth can set an innocent man free, or hang a guilty man. Anyone who fears the truth, fears what the truth can shed. In this case, the radical Islamists know that the more that the truth is shed about their agenda and Islam, it will make it harder for them to accomplish their agenda. Knowledge is power. When the truth becomes criminialized, only the criminals will claim victory.
Viva Geert Wilders!!
Viva la Jews!!
Viva Israel!!
Viva la Netherlands!!
Viva freedom, liberty, and truth!!
Hey Netherlands, love the Geert Akbar sign!!
"Evil will prevail when good man stand by and do nothing." Edmund Burke
Keep up the good work Netherlands.
Only you can prevent the spread of radical Islam! Arm yourself with the truth!
Viva those who stand up against and speak out against the horrors of Islam!!
"Ignorance can be deadly, but silence even deadlier." The truthsayer
"Blessed are the idiots for even they can be forgiven."
I am the truthsayer and I approve of this message.