Religion News Blog » Free Speech

Geert Wilders acquitted of all charges

Religion News Blog — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:12:24 +0000

A court in Amsterdam has acquitted MP Geert Wilders of charges of inciting hatred and insulting Muslims as a group.

The charges had been brought by individuals who felt they had been discriminated against by the anti-Islam nationalist MP.

Christian News Agency Ordered To Register With Hungary’s Media Authority

Religion News Blog — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:41:20 +0000

Central and Eastern Europe's first online Christian news agency, BosNewsLife, was ordered Wednesday, February 9, to register with Hungarian authorities under a new controversial law that critics say is part of a crackdown on independent media.

Under the new law electronic media such as BosNewsLife could face fines of over $100,000 and broadcasters nearly $1 million if their news coverage is deemed unbalanced, immoral or violating human dignity.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders renews attack on Islam

Religion News Blog — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:11:55 +0000

The far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, facing a retrial on charges of incitement to hatred and discrimination, used a court appearance on Monday to engage in harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric, calling Islam a “totalitarian ideology” that seeks to “destroy” European civilisation.

When blasphemy is a crime

Religion News Blog — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:39:30 +0000

The United Nations General Assembly may soon vote — not for the first time — in favor of a resolution opposing the "defamation of religions." The idea, which may sound appealing at first blush, is particularly championed by Islamic countries, which would like to go even further and have the condemnation enshrined in international law.

But a new report by Freedom House, a Washington-based human rights organization, demonstrates how such policies have too often been used by countries to suppress freedom of speech and freedom of religion, leading to serious human rights abuses.

See also: Free Speech and Radical Islam

Dutch court to hear Geert Wilders case over again

Religion News Blog — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:31:42 +0000

A Dutch court approved on Friday a request from anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders to have new judges for his trial on charges of inciting hatred against Muslims, forcing the court to start the case over again.

It is alleged that one of the judges tried to influence one of Wilders' witnesses.

Dutch prosecutor requests some charges against Geert Wilders be dropped

Religion News Blog — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:26:12 +0000

Prosecutors in the hate speech case against Dutch politician Geert Wilders on Tuesday requested the court drop charges of insulting Muslims from the list of crimes being considered.

Although prosecutors would continue pushing for a conviction on charges of discrimination and inciting hatred against Muslims, they said incendiary statements Wilders had made about the Koran and Islam could not be construed as a direct insult to people of the Muslim faith.

Westboro Baptist Church is a hate group

Religion News Blog — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:12:03 +0000

The Westboro Baptist Church is a hate group masquerading as a Christian church. Theologically, the hate group’s extremist views and despicable behavior mark it as a cult of Christianity.

Led by Fred Phelps, members of this 'church' — who have deluded themselves into thinking that they are followers of Jesus Christ — target homosexuals and others with messages of hate.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether or not this group's particular brand of religious insanity should be allowed as 'free speech.'

Dutch anti-Islam MP’s trial to go on

Religion News Blog — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:48:39 +0000

The hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders, set to become a shadow partner of the next government, will go ahead as planned after a court on Tuesday refused to dismiss his judges for alleged bias.

Wilders is charged with five counts of giving religious offence to Muslims and inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and people of non-Western immigrant origin, particularly Moroccans, in comments made between October 2006 and March 2008 in Dutch newspapers and on internet forums.

Seven days of hearings have been scheduled in the month of October, with judgment expected on November 4.

Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) came third in June 9 national elections, and is concluding a deal to support a new minority government of Christian Democrats and liberals in return for a voice in policy-making.

Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders on trial for inciting hate

Religion News Blog — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:32:15 +0000

Dutch anti-Islamist politician Geert Wilders, who plays a controversial but pivotal role in the formation of a new Dutch government, went on trial on Monday for inciting hatred against Muslims.

Wilders is charged with inciting hate and discrimination against Muslims in comments he made in the media and for insulting Muslims by comparing the Islamic faith to Nazism.

Danish book about the Muhammad cartoons controversy goes ahead despite the usual threats

Religion News Blog — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:40:26 +0000

A book about the publication of cartoons in Denmark that angered Muslims by showing images of the Prophet Muhammad will be released despite recent terror threats, the publisher said Wednesday.

"The book will come out as planned," said Karsten Blauert, of Jyllands-Posten Editions.

The book, titled "The Tyranny of Silence," is due out Thursday, five years to the day after the cartoons first appeared in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

Our take: Good for them! People in the civilized world can not allow a bunch of barbarians, who claims to act in the name of their religion, to violate their freedom with threats of violence and other acts of terrorism.