Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen believes far-rightist, anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders is damaging the country by his divide-and-rule approach to politics and fear-mongering.
"His method is simple: he plays people off against one another, in a highly distasteful fashion," Verhagen told a conference on public and social diplomacy in the 21st century on Wednesday, March 10.
"He is not looking to find common ground, uphold shared values or work toward constructive solutions based on these shared values," asserted the top diplomat.
"In fact, his approach is the opposite of constructive: by spreading fear and hatred, he is only destroying, not building."
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Netherlands Prosecutes Anti-Islam MP
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Unveiling Wilders' Deception
Wilders's far-right Freedom Party (PVV) made strong gains in last week's local polls coming first in Almere, a city near the capital Amsterdam, and second in The Hague, boosting his chances to win the June parliamentary elections.
The controversial politician is notorious for his attacks against Islam and Muslims.
He released in March 2008 a 15-minute documentary, entitled "Fitna" or sedition in Arabic, accusing the Qur'an of inciting violence.
The documentary drew international condemnation and was blasted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as "offensively anti-Islamic".
Wilders had earlier called for banning the Muslim holy book, which he described as "fascist."
Foreign Minister Verhagen warned that his approach to politics has many serious repercussions, both domestically and internationally.
"In the process, he is damaging the interests of the Dutch people and the reputation of the Netherlands in the wider world.
"If we allow discrimination and hatred to spread, this will only lead to segregation, polarization, escalation and eventually, confrontation."
Freedom to Offend
Foreign Minister Verhagen refuted the argument used by Wilders to justifying his controversial actions on the grounds of freedom of expressions.
"Being free to give offence does not mean that it is wise to give offence," he asserted.
"Freedom of expression is not a license to insult other people at will. Everyone has the responsibility to show respect for the rights and reputations of others."
The government official also defended Islam and the country's Muslims against repeated attacks by Wilders.
"Islam is not the problem," he stressed.
"We should condemn not religions, but rather people and groups who abuse religion to achieve their ends through violence."
Verhagen praised the active participation of the Muslim community over the past centuries.
"There are more than 800,000 people in the Netherlands with roots in the Islamic world, about 5.3% of our population," he noted.
"The overwhelming majority of them adheres to the values and rules of Dutch society and participates in Dutch society."
Wilders, currently facing charges of discrimination and inciting hatred against non western immigrants and Muslims, will show a second part of his anti-Islam film, Fitna II, after the June general elections.
The new film, prepared with the help of professional US filmmakers, will allegedly show the effects of Muslim immigration to Europe.
"If we allow discrimination and hatred to spread, this will only lead to segregation, polarization, escalation and eventually, confrontation," said Foreign Minister Verhagen.
"I have no patience for radical elements that place themselves outside our society. These radical elements should be penalized heavily as they are disrupting our social fabric."
"His method is simple: he plays people off against one another, in a highly distasteful fashion," Verhagen told a conference on public and social diplomacy in the 21st century on Wednesday, March 10.
"He is not looking to find common ground, uphold shared values or work toward constructive solutions based on these shared values," asserted the top diplomat.
"In fact, his approach is the opposite of constructive: by spreading fear and hatred, he is only destroying, not building."
*
Netherlands Prosecutes Anti-Islam MP
*
Unveiling Wilders' Deception
Wilders's far-right Freedom Party (PVV) made strong gains in last week's local polls coming first in Almere, a city near the capital Amsterdam, and second in The Hague, boosting his chances to win the June parliamentary elections.
The controversial politician is notorious for his attacks against Islam and Muslims.
He released in March 2008 a 15-minute documentary, entitled "Fitna" or sedition in Arabic, accusing the Qur'an of inciting violence.
The documentary drew international condemnation and was blasted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as "offensively anti-Islamic".
Wilders had earlier called for banning the Muslim holy book, which he described as "fascist."
Foreign Minister Verhagen warned that his approach to politics has many serious repercussions, both domestically and internationally.
"In the process, he is damaging the interests of the Dutch people and the reputation of the Netherlands in the wider world.
"If we allow discrimination and hatred to spread, this will only lead to segregation, polarization, escalation and eventually, confrontation."
Freedom to Offend
Foreign Minister Verhagen refuted the argument used by Wilders to justifying his controversial actions on the grounds of freedom of expressions.
"Being free to give offence does not mean that it is wise to give offence," he asserted.
"Freedom of expression is not a license to insult other people at will. Everyone has the responsibility to show respect for the rights and reputations of others."
The government official also defended Islam and the country's Muslims against repeated attacks by Wilders.
"Islam is not the problem," he stressed.
"We should condemn not religions, but rather people and groups who abuse religion to achieve their ends through violence."
Verhagen praised the active participation of the Muslim community over the past centuries.
"There are more than 800,000 people in the Netherlands with roots in the Islamic world, about 5.3% of our population," he noted.
"The overwhelming majority of them adheres to the values and rules of Dutch society and participates in Dutch society."
Wilders, currently facing charges of discrimination and inciting hatred against non western immigrants and Muslims, will show a second part of his anti-Islam film, Fitna II, after the June general elections.
The new film, prepared with the help of professional US filmmakers, will allegedly show the effects of Muslim immigration to Europe.
"If we allow discrimination and hatred to spread, this will only lead to segregation, polarization, escalation and eventually, confrontation," said Foreign Minister Verhagen.
"I have no patience for radical elements that place themselves outside our society. These radical elements should be penalized heavily as they are disrupting our social fabric."
