Hiiraan Online
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders
WASHINGTON (HOL) ----Two US congressmen have formally requested the US government not to give a visa to Mr. Geert Wilders, an anti-Islam Dutch lawmaker who is expected to visit the US next week.
Writing to the State Department and Homeland security, congressmen Keith Ellison and Carson urged the U.S. government to deny Mr. Wilders entry due to his participation in 'inciting' anti-Muslim aggression and violence.
"Mr. Wilders' policy agenda is centered on the principle that Christian culture is superior to other cultures. He justifies his desire to ban the Quran and Islam from the Netherlands with depraved
comments like, "Islam is not a religion, it's an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture."5 We should not be importing hate speech." The two congressmen said in a letter addressed to the two
departments.
In the note, they rationalized their claims with previous entry denial against several leaders under the authority of the International Religious Freedom Act which allows the Department of State to deny
entry to a foreign leader who is responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.'
"This precedent is applicable to Mr. Wilders." They stressed.
The development comes as Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are sweeping through Europe with gunmen attacked Jewish supermarket in Paris this year, killing several people.
It's unclear if their request would be accepted by the US government. No comment could be reached from the State department on the congressmen's appeals; however, they said giving visa to Mr. Wilders would embolden him to engage in further incitement of violence and discrimination against Muslims.
"Allowing him to enter the United States will cause harm to our nation that values religious freedom and respects pluralism." The letter concluded.
Mr. Wilders is currently being prosecuted in the Netherlands for alleged discrimination and inciting hatred against Moroccans during election campaigning in March, according to prosecutors.
The charges were made after he led an anti-Moroccan chant in a cafe, which was broadcast nationally and prompted 6,400 complaints to the police, according to Reuters news agency.