Victory for Geert Wilders: Court Overturns Ban on Entering U.K.

Geert Wilders had challenged a decision in February by then home secretary Jacqui Smith, which forced him to turn back at Heathrow Airport.

But the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal has now ruled that the head of the Party for Freedom should be allowed to enter the UK.

Before the ban, Mr Wilders had intended to show his short film Fitna, which criticises the Koran as a "fascist book", at the House of Lords.

But Ms Smith said his presence had the potential to "threaten community harmony and therefore public safety".

Praising the tribunal's ruling, Mr Wilders said: "It's a fantastic decision. It's not a victory for myself, but a victory for freedom of speech."

Mr Wilders' public relations manager Gaelle de Graaff, in The Netherlands, told Sky News Online: "He will go to the UK on Friday, as he was invited by (UK Independence Party's) Lord Pearson, and will probably go to the House of Lords.

"They will discuss plans for showing the movie in the near future. He's not going to show it now. But he is planning to show the movie.

"It's more of a diplomatic visit. He will also be seeing his (appeal) lawyers to thank them for their work."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government opposes extremism in all its forms.

"The decision to refuse Wilders' admission was taken on the basis that his presence could have inflamed tensions between our communities and have led to inter-faith violence. We still maintain this view."

Mr Wilders' film urges Muslims to tear out "hate-filled" verses from the Koran and he has compared Islam to Nazism.

UK, Wednesday October 14, 2009

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Geert
• Wilders
• free
• speech
• Euroope
• islamization
• islamification

[blenkarni]

The origin of Islamic violence is the historical need to prevent Muslims from questioning the prophet.

[MonaalizMJiheartU]

great :D

[TheJoelef]

@unhooked25 we need more people who ban books, bans religions and want to deport people who ahvent commited a crime?

[unhooked25]

I'm British and I'm very happy that Mr. Geert Wilders was given the green light to enter Britain to express his meaningful message and to get his whole point across. I sure hope he has some big influence and inspires more people to be like him. He is a very brave and smart man. I hope he gets the ball rolling. We need more people like him.

[moamin2015]

@GrassNL of Hell

[MegaGayjesus]

@blenkarni Does anyone know what is wrong with hating the Koran and fascist Islam?

[GrassNL]

Geert voor president !

[emekonen]

@Mattyb88ful Sure there is, absolute truth has become relative to you and to any liberal society. If I stand up and proclaim that certain people are wrong about something, I will be condemned as "intolerant" regardless of if what I present is truth or not. Therefore truth is relative. It is happening in USA right now. Liberalism does make truth as a whole relative to the believer. LOL you yourself are saying it, then denying it. Just stop.

[Mattyb88ful]

@emekonen

I am a liberal and there's nothing relative, as far as I am concerned, when it comes to, for example, a person's right to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

[Mattyb88ful]

@emekonen

In a liberal society, people are permitted to pursue their lives as they see fit AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT INFRINGE on the ability of others to pursue their lives.

So, while a liberal society can shelter people with different views, truths and lifestyles, the umbrella under which the society runs -- i.e. people are permitted to pursue their lives as they DON'T INFRINGE on the ability of others to pursue their lives -- is a higher truth to people who believe in liberalism.

[emekonen]

@Mattyb88ful Exactly! Liberalism is individualistic, hence having to respect everyone else's version of the truth, denying an absolute truth in lieu of a personal truth, even when it is not truth. LOL You answered your own question.