Persecuted Dutch Politician, Geert de Wilders, Speaks at Columbia

Geert de Wilders

[From article]
Wilders’ appearance sparked substantial controversy, as he is known for his provocative calls to end Muslim immigration to the Netherlands and impose a national ban of the Quran. The Republicans maintained that their invitation was not an endorsement of Wilders’ views—which they characterized as “extreme”—but rather a defense of free speech.
[. . .]
“We felt that inviting Mr. Wilders would provide Columbia with a view into what freedom of speech is like in other parts of the world, how it has been limited, and how it is very important that we continue to fight for that freedom,” College Republicans member and event organizer David Honeycutt said in a statement.
Wilders was invited to discuss free speech and his experience with repression. In February, the British government banned him from the country, though a court overturned the ban this month, and within the Netherlands there have been numerous calls for his prosecution. “I would not qualify myself as a free man anymore,” Wilders said.

He devoted much of his address to criticizing Islam, stating at various points, “The Quran is an evil book, full of violence, murder, terrorism, war,” “Muhammad was not a perfect man—he was a mass murderer and a pedophile,” and “Europe is in the process of becoming ‘Eurabia.’” He maintained that he did not hate Muslims, distinguishing between the Muslim people and the “ideology” of Islam.
“We didn’t invite him to talk about his views on Islam,” the Republicans wrote in a statement released on Thursday. “We find the fact that he spent so much of his speech talking about those views regrettable, but he did explain that those views play a part in his concern for free speech.”
Wilders sought to draw a direct connection between Islam and his own repression, stating, “Free speech is Islam’s enemy,” and calling cultural relativism and Muslim immigration obstacles of free speech.
[. . .]
“We are fundamentally accepting of freedom of speech, which is not denied in Islam,” said Adel Elsohly, a graduate adviser to the Muslim Students Association of Columbia. “What are denied are hateful and derisive comments.”

[Precisely the issue. Free speech is a concept to protect speech that you hate. Speech you like needs no protection. This is the essential point that censors like this student remains clueless.] 

Elsohly argued that “freedom from fear” is just as important as freedom of speech, but added that the MSA chose not to protest the event in order to underscore its commitment to First Amendment principles. [Does the freedom from fear include the fear of being censored?]

[. . .]
Wilders’ appearance at Columbia came one day after he spoke at Temple University, where his speech was cut off midway through and his invitation officially rescinded due to student protests.
http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2009/10/23/dutch-leader-tests-free-speech

Dutch leader tests free speech
Controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders spoke out on campus, even as many questioned the legitimacy of his views.
Columbia Spectator News
Published Friday 23 October 2009 02:42am EST.