Dutch MP banned from uk for calling the Koran "facist"

[Urchin]

All hell is breaking lose over this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7885918.stm

A Dutch MP who called the Koran a "fascist book" has been sent back to the Netherlands after attempting to defy a ban on entering the UK.

Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders had been invited to show his controversial film - which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism - in the UK's House of Lords.

But Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, has been denied entry by the Home Office.

He told the BBC it was a "very sad day" for UK democracy.

What do you think?

P.S Can we debate this without falling out about it?

 

[HappyAlice]

I put undecided because I'd want to see the film before deciding - I suspect he may have a point, I'm not an organised religion fan

 

[mummykay]

I think he should be allowed into Britain, hes not paradin round the streets tellin people to kill all muslims unlike that Abu Hamza twat who was tellin extremists to kill all Brits whilst on our godamn streets is he?!

Freedom of speech, its a beautiful thing

 

[Jade&Evie]

I think that if we live in a country with freedom of speech then we should accept that it means people with extreme views have freedom of speech too. Luckily they are the minority and I don't seehow denying him entry to the UK has done anything positive. Lets face it- if he was in the UK 'inciting hatred' how many people would have listened to him or even heard of him? He's got more publicity being denied entry than being allowed in!

 

[Krystal]

I put undecided because without seeing the film I can't say for sure however from reading it I think that the right decision was made.

From the sounds of it the film is pretty derogatory towards Muslims and the Koran. For him to be trialled in his own country for inciting hatred it must be fairly bad.

I wonder if those voting yes would be so happy had it being an Abu Hamza type character wanting to come over here to show a film about how the western world is evil and is the cause of terrorism. To me it sounds like the same type of person, only difference is he is from the West

 

[Suzie and Faith]

I put undecided because without seeing the film I can't say for sure however from reading it I think that the right decision was made.

From the sounds of it the film is pretty derogatory towards Muslims and the Koran. For him to be trialled in his own country for inciting hatred it must be fairly bad.

I wonder if those voting yes would be so happy had it being an Abu Hamza type character wanting to come over here to show a film about how the western world is evil and is the cause of terrorism. To me it sounds like the same type of person, only difference is he is from the West

ditto!

 

[Lou]

I voted undecided because I am undecided

But seeing as he is on trial in his own country for inciting racial hatred I very much doubt he would have had anything good or constructive to bring to the UK anyhow

Freedom of speech is not a license for any old idiot to spout bullshit, although its never stopped me

 

[beanie]

Abu Hamza was a British citizen wasn't he, through marriage so we can't really compare the two things. However other muslim extremist have been denied access to the UK such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi so this itself is nothing new. Wilders had nothing to offer but a film that was extremist in its views - I have no problem with freedom of speech even if I don't agree with it but we have to draw a line somewhere and I personally think any free speech that is inciteful to violence or hate against groups of people should not be allowed.

 

[Becc]

I chose undecided because I think that the press are manipulative and you can't really take anything they say as literal. With regard to people mention Abu Hamza, it does seem to be one rule for one and another for another in cases like this. And I do sometimes think that political correctness has gone absolutely nuts in this country.

However, on the other hand, if this man really is out there to cause rifts between different sections of society then I suppose no good can come of letting him in

 

[uncle_bens]

I think the UK are right in banning him and sending him back. If people want to go the 'free speech' route then you have to accept everything, not just the things that don't offend you.

RECENT CASES
Muslim cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi refused entry in order to protect community cohesion. He has described suicide bombers as "martyrs" and homosexuality as "a disease"
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan barred on the grounds that his allegedly racist and anti-Semitic views could threaten public order
Martha Stewart and US rapper Snoop Dogg denied entry because of criminal convictions

 

[beanie]

I chose undecided because I think that the press are manipulative and you can't really take anything they say as literal. With regard to people mention Abu Hamza, it does seem to be one rule for one and another for another in cases like this. And I do sometimes think that political correctness has gone absolutely nuts in this country.

Abu Hamza had citizenship - if he had been a visitor to the UK and had requested a visit to show of his film about how bad the west is I don't think he would have been let in either.

 

[Jade&Evie]

I think the UK are right in banning him and sending him back. If people want to go the 'free speech' route then you have to accept everything, not just the things that don't offend you.

RECENT CASES
Muslim cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi refused entry in order to protect community cohesion. He has described suicide bombers as "martyrs" and homosexuality as "a disease"
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan barred on the grounds that his allegedly racist and anti-Semitic views could threaten public order
Martha Stewart and US rapper Snoop Dogg denied entry because of criminal convictions

you contradicted yourself a bit there

 

[Becc]

I think the UK are right in banning him and sending him back. If people want to go the 'free speech' route then you have to accept everything, not just the things that don't offend you.

RECENT CASES
Muslim cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi refused entry in order to protect community cohesion. He has described suicide bombers as "martyrs" and homosexuality as "a disease"
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan barred on the grounds that his allegedly racist and anti-Semitic views could threaten public order
Martha Stewart and US rapper Snoop Dogg denied entry because of criminal convictions

I didn't know about those other cases as I don't really watch the news... only look when it's posted on here!

Also... I find it hilarious that 'Snoop Dogg' wasn't allowed in I guess fame isn't everything!

 

[beanie]

I think the UK are right in banning him and sending him back. If people want to go the 'free speech' route then you have to accept everything, not just the things that don't offend you.

RECENT CASES
Muslim cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi refused entry in order to protect community cohesion. He has described suicide bombers as "martyrs" and homosexuality as "a disease"
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan barred on the grounds that his allegedly racist and anti-Semitic views could threaten public order
Martha Stewart and US rapper Snoop Dogg denied entry because of criminal convictions

you contradicted yourself a bit there

I don't think she did, it made sense to me. She is saying that if we think this man should be allowed in because of free speech then others like those mentioned should have had access too (though Martha Stewart is indeed a dangerous woman )

 

[Becc]

I chose undecided because I think that the press are manipulative and you can't really take anything they say as literal. With regard to people mention Abu Hamza, it does seem to be one rule for one and another for another in cases like this. And I do sometimes think that political correctness has gone absolutely nuts in this country.

Abu Hamza had citizenship - if he had been a visitor to the UK and had requested a visit to show of his film about how bad the west is I don't think he would have been let in either.

Ahhh I see... tbh I don't worry about him anyway... I think the vast majority of people aren't stupid enough to listen to him so he just ends up looking like an idiot standing around shouting and bawling nonsense. I like to have faith that people know right from wrong and won't be influenced by those preaching hatred. It's like the BNP... I mean... does anybody sane actually take them seriously? They're just full of rubbish.

Maybe I'm just being a hippy...

 

[Jade&Evie]

I think the UK are right in banning him and sending him back. If people want to go the 'free speech' route then you have to accept everything, not just the things that don't offend you.

RECENT CASES
Muslim cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi refused entry in order to protect community cohesion. He has described suicide bombers as "martyrs" and homosexuality as "a disease"
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan barred on the grounds that his allegedly racist and anti-Semitic views could threaten public order
Martha Stewart and US rapper Snoop Dogg denied entry because of criminal convictions

you contradicted yourself a bit there

I don't think she did, it made sense to me. She is saying that if we think this man should be allowed in because of free speech then others like those mentioned should have had access too (though Martha Stewart is indeed a dangerous woman )

Ah I see, I read it wrong! Sorry!

 

[widowwadman]

I think the guy is a disgusting twit and a nutjob, however he's allowed to voice his twittishness like everyone else. Everything else would be the introduction of 'thoughtcrime', which is more unpleasant than any of the views he stands for.

 

[Krystal]

Abu Hamza was a British citizen wasn't he, through marriage so we can't really compare the two things. However other muslim extremist have been denied access to the UK such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi so this itself is nothing new. Wilders had nothing to offer but a film that was extremist in its views - I have no problem with freedom of speech even if I don't agree with it but we have to draw a line somewhere and I personally think any free speech that is inciteful to violence or hate against groups of people should not be allowed.

My comparison was to a Abu Hamza type character, the type of people like TMT referred to in her post. I just didn't have any other name to reference my point to. Not Abu himself

 

[emeraldsroses]

ER

 

[Jade&Evie]

Geert Wilders isn't inciting violence whereas the Koran does.

That's a brave statement