Pat Condell: Shame on the NetherlandsJanuary 29, 2009 - 13:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Famous British actor and video-blogger Pat Condell has spoken out in support of Dutch MP Geert Wilders, the author of anti-Islam "Fitna" film. He denounced the court decision to prosecute Wilders as an unacceptable limitation of the freedom of speech that shames not only the Netherlands, but Europe as a whole. Condell accused the Dutch government of appeasing of Islam, which he believes is leading to Europe's cultural suicide. "Shame on the Netherlands," Condell said in his video address. Last week a Dutch court has ordered prosecutors to put a right-wing politician on trial for making anti-Islamic statements. "In a democratic system, hate speech is considered so serious that it is in the general interest to... draw a clear line," the court in Amsterdam said. The three judges said that they had weighed Mr Wilders's "one-sided generalizations" against his right to free speech, and ruled that he had gone beyond the normal leeway granted to politicians. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |