5 most racist rants from Geert Wilders as his trial for inciting hatred begins
5 most racist rants from Geert Wilders as his trial for inciting hatred begins
We take a look back at the most racist things Wilders said in the past, starting off with one that led to his current trial.
We take a look back at the most racist things Wilders said in the past, starting off with one that led to his current trial.
“Islam is not a religion, it's an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture”
Wilders came out with this line, just in case you weren’t already sure where he stood on the issue, while promoting his controversial film "Fitna" in the Guardian in 2008. The next year, he was briefly blocked from entering the UK until he won an appeal.
“Our Judeo-Christian culture is far superior to the Islamic one. I can give you a million reasons. But here is an important one. We have got humor and they don't.”
Wilders made this not-so-hilarious comments when speaking at last year's event in Texas featured cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. Two gunmen with links to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) were killed by police after they tried to ambush the event, while their accomplice was convicted on terror charges this week.
“The Koran is a fascist book which incites violence. That is why this book, just like "Mein Kampf", must be banned.”
Wilders went on trial in 2011 for inciting hatred against Muslims using quotes like the above and for calling for Muslim criminals to be stripped of Dutch nationality and deported. He was acquitted after a judge decided that the target was a religion and not a race.
“In my fight for freedom and against the 'Islamization' of the Netherlands, I will never let anyone silence me. No matter the cost, no matter by whom, whatever the consequences may be.”
Wilders' PPV party is gaining momentum with those who oppose him, but support absolute free speech. Wilders backers including members of the neo-Nazi movement Pegida, who demonstrated outside the courtroom with some wearing pigs ears in an attempt to taunt Muslims for not eating pork.