Geert Wilders is a Dutch Member of Parliament who continues to receive Muslim death threats because of his anti-Islam film "Fitna".



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Wilders took part in the "Facing Jihad" conference in Jerusalem this week organized by Knesset Member Dr. Aryeh Eldad. Wilders does not go anywhere without his Dutch bodyguards: “A lot of people do not like my political ideas about the threat of Islamic ideology," he explained to IsraelNationalRadio’s Yishai Fleisher, "and so unfortunately I have lost my freedom. This is the price I have to pay.”



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The 15-minute film, which was screened at the conference, portrays the Koranic verses and teachings that inspire modern jihadist terrorism.  Release of the video on the internet was accompanied by threats against Wilders, international debate about the limits of freedom of speech, and discussion of what Wilders called his “call to shake off the creeping tyranny of Islamization."

Upon its release in March of this year, the movie was banned by the internet registrar Network Solutions. The video provider LiveLeak then screened it, but was forced to recall it by Islamic pressure after approximately one day.  IsraelNationalNews/Arutz-7 then stepped in and hosted "Fitna" on its website, in order to “educate the Western world as to the dangers facing non-Muslims and Western democracies all around the world.”

The movie ends with a dramatic call for Europe to awake and defeat Islamic ideology, just as it defeated the threats of Nazism and Communism in the past.

Geert Wilders talks to Dutch reporters

Yishai Fleisher

The purpose of the movie, Wilders told Fleisher, “was to educate people in the Netherlands and around the world about what the Koran and Islam really stand for.  So far, some 20 million people have seen it, so I hope I have been somewhat successful… What you in Israel face is not just a territorial conflict, but an ideological one, stemming from the fascist Kuran.”

As evidence, Wilders cites the recent massacre in Mumbai: “We saw that in a city of ten million people, the terrorists found the lone rabbi there and killed him, and separated the kafirs, the non-Muslims, from the Muslims and killed them.  This is what we have to fight in order to preserve our Judeo-Christian culture, which I believe we should be proud of, and stop the biggest disease in Europe culture today: cultural relativism and political-correctness.”

Fleisher proposed that in addition to the Muslim threat, there is a political atmosphere that supports, justifies and protects the propagation of Islamic ideology.  Wilders said: “Exactly. There are two big problems. One is Islam itself, and the second is the ruling elite. For instance, there was a recent poll in the Netherlands showing that 60% of the population feels that Islam is not compatible with democracy – yet at the same time, the government continues to let everyone in, subsidizing everyone, building more mosques, and acting as if Islam is just another religion. But it’s not a religion; it has religious symbols, but it’s actually an ideology.”

Audience at Facing Jihad conference

Yishai Fleisher

“The way for us to fight this,” Wilders said, “is that we need new leaders in Europe. We have no leaders; what we have today is a bunch of dhimmis [non-Muslims under Muslim law -ed.] who are selling out their own countries and their own identities. I am happy to see that other parties that are promoting these issues of immigration and Islamization are gaining momentum, so I hope that we will be able to work together against the [subservience] of the European ruling elite.”

Fleisher: “Do you think we can win?”

Wilders: “We can, but we have very little time left. It’s five minutes to 12… We have to be very tough in terms of immigration, building mosques and everything that has to do with the Islamization of the continent.  Jews and Christians are beaten up on the streets of my own country, and in Belgium, for drinking water in public during Ramadan!  … Someone has to get up and say, ‘Enough is enough.’”

About Israel, Wilders said, “I love Israel. I lived here when I was 17-18 in a moshav near Jericho.  My most important message [to Israel] is to remember that this is not a territorial conflict, but ideological.  You gave up Gaza, and what did it give you?  Nothing good.  [Regarding] a Palestinian state, I would say there already is one, and it’s called Jordan; but if you feel that this will help, I would tell you that this is an illusion. It will not bring about the end of the jihad; it’s rather the start of jihad. We see it here, and in Europe, and in the United States. However, whatever Israel decides, I will always be your friend - but make sure that you are not fooled by people who say it’s a territorial dispute.  You must defend yourselves.”

Yishai Fleisher with Geert Wilders

Yishai Fleisher

Eldad's Anti-Islamization Legislation

MK Aryeh Eldad, who organized the conference, used the opportunity to unveil details of emergency anti-Islamization legislation he is planning to introduce in the next Knesset – if he wins a seat.  Currently, polls show that his HaTikvah party will not have sufficient support in the coming elections.

Click to hear the Dr. Aryeh Eldad interview

“This legislation is aimed at confronting the enemy from within and without the State of Israel,” said Eldad at the conference. “What I am trying to accomplish is to preserve the State of Israel as a Jewish state and to continue the fight against those who say that we no longer need a Jewish state, but a bi-national state of Jews and Muslims.”

The new legislation calls for every Israeli citizen to pledge an oath of allegiance to the State of Israel, requires every citizen to serve the country either in the army or through national service, and aims to crack down on the illegal acquisition of land, illegal building and organized crime in the Arab sector as well as the preaching of hateful statements and doctrines in mosques.

Speakers at the conference included Prof. John Lewis, Itamar Marcus of Palestinian Media Watch, Daniel Pipes, and others.