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| US senator hosts anti-Islamic Dutch lawmaker |
| 2009-02-24 |
| Republican Sen. Jon Kyl is hosting a film screening at the Capitol building on Thursday for a far-right Dutch lawmaker who claims that Islam inspires terrorism. Kyl is sponsoring the event for Geert Wilders, who was denied entry to London earlier this month because British authorities said he posed a threat to public order. Wilders’ 15-minute film juxtaposes verses from the Quran with images of violence by Muslims. Wilders has called the Quran a "fascist book" and said it should be banned. Kyl agreed to facilitate the event because "all too often, people who have the courage to point out the dangers of militant Islamists find themselves vilified and endangered," said spokesman Ryan Patmintra. Thursday’s event was being sponsored by the International Free Press Society, headed by Danish activist Lars Hedegaard, and the Center for Security Policy, a think tank in Washington led by Republican Frank Gaffney. The event is closed to the public and press, but the film is being shown to members of Congress and their staff in the ornate "LBJ room," a Senate office once used by Lyndon B. Johnson as majority leader and later vice president. Hedegaard, who helped sponsor Wilders’ visit to the U.S., said Europe’s hate speech and blasphemy laws do not make any sense. "The way to deal with controversial, offensive or even hateful statements — unless they are directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action — is to expose them to public debate and criticism," Hedegaard said in a statement advertising Thursday’s event. While it is unusual for U.S. lawmakers to grant Capitol access to such a controversial figure, it was unlikely Wilders’ appearance would produce the same outcry as it did in Britain. Several leading senators, including Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, declined to comment. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #6 So why does every Islamic suicide bomber have Koranic writing in their pockets and make martyr videos citing they pulled the cord for Islam? |
| Posted by: Hammerhead 2009-02-24 20:19 |
| #5 Att Gen Holder claimed Americans are cowards on race. Would be interesting to get his comment on Fitna. Probably no comment |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-02-24 09:58 |
| #4 "claims that Islam inspires terrorism" Only 12787 data points back up this claim. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles the flatulent 2009-02-24 09:33 |
| #3 ...who claims that Islam inspires terrorism. Claims? |
| Posted by: Raj 2009-02-24 08:16 |
| #2 Defend the rights of women, gay men, religious minorities including and especially Jews, Christians and Hindus and you are a "far right" lawmaker. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2009-02-24 07:29 |
| #1 Right |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2009-02-24 06:42 |