If you thought Geert Wilders was the only European being prosecuted (in Holland) for speaking out against radical Islam, think again. A trial is underway right now in Austria, in which Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff is charged with inciting racial hatred-by giving a speech criticizing Islam and its implications for Europe. The below story is in Pajamas Media.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/free-speech-on-trial-in-austria-and-europe/
Americans tend to believe that European countries are free democracies like ours. Not quite. Many countries have strict laws about speech when it comes to ethnic groups. One of the first such laws was against Holocaust denial. From that, the Europeans have come to recognize that they have an immediate problem on their hands; millions of immigrants from mostly Muslim countries, who are not assimilating. On the contrary, many are living on public welfare, condemning the host country and its culture, committing crimes and helping revive anti-Semitism. The reaction among ordinary Europeans is alarm, anger and outrage.
Therein lies the problem. Many Europeans are afraid to even utter the words, "Muslim" or "Islam" lest they be singled out for condemnation and/or even prosecution. Their political leaders as well as the suits in the EU are hiding under their desks, venturing out only to crack down on their citizens when they raise their voices, as they did in last year's Swiss referendum to stop construction of minarets. It was roundly condemned by all the Swiss polticians as well as in the EU.
Keep in mind, we are not talking about Europeans condemning Muslim immigrants as individuals, which would be wrong, but trying to launch an honest discussion of what is happening to their societies. The Europeans are reaching the stage when they need to have an honest debate not only on the problems they are facing, but about who is going to decide what is acceptable speech and what isn't. Over half a century ago, the continent experienced the bloodiest war in history in order that freedom would prevail. Are they going to surrender it so easily?
Are we?
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1 comment:
Gary, you can't have it both ways. If you get three years in jail in Germany for denying the holocaust (which makes you an idiot, not a criminal) then you needn't be surprised that people are afraid to voice an opinion on the other subject. The war between the Jews and the Islamists will probably be carried out in Germany.
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