User talk:David Finn/countries
In the Netherlands, right-wing politician Geert Wilders has been vocal in his criticism of Islam. Although defining his objections as against radical Islam and "Islamisation" Wilders has been critical of the Koran, likening it to Hitlers Mein Kampf and calling for it to be banned. Capitalizing on wider anti-immigrant fears in the Netherlands, Wilders and his Freedom Party (Partij voor de Vrijheid or PVV) became in 2010 the third largest political party in the Netherlands and subsequently an influence on the Dutch coalition government.
In addition to advocating the banning of the Koran, Wilders has proposed a tax on headscarves, which transformed into a nationwide ban against public wearing of the burka, the full Islamic veil, a concession granted Wilders and the PVV by the ruling Dutch coalition in return for parliamentary support. A frequent visitor to Israel, Wilders has described the "war on Israel" as an attack against Western society, and his views have generated financial support for the PVV in both Israel and the United States.
In his 2008 short film, Fitna, Wilders presented some of his views on Islam, linking passages of religious text to alleged acts of Muslim violence. Despite much opposition to the film, both in the Netherlands and abroad, Wilders has attended presentations of Fitna around the world, including in the United States Congress and, after an initial travel ban was overturned, in the House of Lords.[1] As of November 2010 Wilders is still involved in legal action over comments made both in the film and elsewhere, and faces charges of inciting hatred against Muslims.[2]
Despite limited political support and much negative opinion, growing popular support for Wilders could see further anti-Islamic reforms in the Netherlands, as Wilders has proposed severe restrictions on the rights of non-Westerners to practice religion, as well as restrictive anti-immigration policies.