Posted on 05/16/2008 1:43:33 PM PDT by knighthawk
AMSTERDAM, 17/05/08 - Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin has attracted sharp criticism from a large part of the Lower House following the surprise arrest of cartoonist Gregorius Nekschot. He is facing charges of discrimination.
The arrest took place last Tuesday. The well-known stand-up comedian Hans Teeuwen, a friend of Nekschot, said on TV programme Pauw en Witteman that around 10 police dragged the cartoonist out of his home in Amsterdam in a brutal manner. His computer and telephone were seized, according to a furious Teeuwen.
The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) in Amsterdam confirmed that Nekschot ('Neck Shot') was arrested for the publication of cartoons that are discriminatory against Muslims and people of darker skin. The cartoonist was held for about a day and a half and interrogated twice. The OM still has to decide whether he will actually be prosecuted.
The arrest is particularly remarkable because it follows a complaint dating from 2005. Three years later, there was suddenly reason to take Nekschot by surprise in his home, said Teeuwen with incomprehension.
Hirsch Ballin said Friday the arrest was only now carried out because Nekschot's identity was not known to the OM before. According to Geenstijl.nl website, this is nonsense because internet providers must provide the details of operators of websites they host if the OM asks for this as part of a criminal investigation.
The OM did not bother to make such a request before, but Hirsch Ballin apparently now wants headlines such as 'Cartoonist Arrested in The Netherlands' to be send into the world to improve tense relations with Arab countries, Geenstijl suggested.
Centre-left D66 MP Boris van der Ham has requested Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin for clarification. The arrest raises "many questions about freedom of speech," according to Van der Ham.
Socialist Party (SP) MP Jan de Wit also finds it very strange that the cartoonist was "arrested in his bed for a cartoon from 2005." Freedom of expression "means that people must be able to draw and say whatever they want." The conservatives (VVD) were also very critical.
The government parties did not want to use hard words. Labour (PvdA) MP Ton Heerts did say that "prosecuting a cartoonist is going pretty far." But the Christian democrats (CDA) and ChristenUnie said the OM probably has good reasons for its way of operating.
Cartoonists, comics and columnists have more freedom of expression than other citizens, according to jurisprudence. This is due to the form - artistic or satirical - they choose for their argument.
Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders is accusing the OM in Amsterdam, which gave the police the order for the arrest, of "dictatorial tendencies." Wilders said Friday he cannot remember a cartoonist ever being arrested anywhere in the West. He wants to call Hirsch Ballin to account Tuesday during the weekly question hour in the Lower House.
The arrest followed an investigation of the work of Nekschot, after a complaint was made against him in 2005 by Abdul Jabbar van de Ven. This Dutch convert to Islam calls himself an Imam. After the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh, he said on TV he would thank Allah if he could arrange for Geert Wilders to die, "for example of cancer".
Jabbar van de Ven made the complaint to the National Discrimination Expertise Centre (LECD). This complaint was passed on to the OM. According to Geenstijl.nl, Paul Velleman, the prosecutor who gave the order for the cartoonist's arrest, is also the head of the LECD.
Gregorius Nekschot publishes mainly on the Internet, but also produced a book titled 'Nekschot: Sick jokes.' Theo van Gogh, assassinated by a Muslim terrorist in 2004, gave space on his website to the work of Nekschot.
According to Teeuwen, the cartoonist was intimidated by one of the officers during his arrest, who apparently said that his real surname would be made public. "A pretty intimidating remark." Precisely because of the threat of radical Muslims, Nekschot is very cautious about who he gives his real name to, said Teeuwen.
Prosecutor Paul Velleman is also leading the OM team that is investigating whether Wilders should be prosecuted for discrimination, according to Geenstijl.nl. In 2005, Velleman decided that the radical E Tawheed mosque in Amsterdam could not be prosecuted for selling books in which calls were made for throwing homosexuals from apartment buildings head-first.
Islam-list
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
First they came for the cartoonists...
All people are equal. Only some people are more equal than others. He should say that he is gay and then counter sue the lot of them.
‘Insulting’ cartoons under investigation
The Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced that the cartoonist who works under the pseudonym Gregorius Nekschot was arrested for publishing ‘insulting cartoons’.
The cartoonist will not reveal his real name out of fear that Islamic extremists will seek revenge for the cartoons, many of which make fun of the Muslim religion.
It is extremely unusual for a Dutch artist to be arrested for his works. Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin says he does not believe the case has anything to do with suppressing free expression.
On Tuesday, Gregorius Nekschot was arrested at his Amsterdam home. The arresting force was made up of the magistrate, five police officers and three members of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. His home was searched and he was taken to a police station, where he refused to answer questions. That night he had to remain in the cell; he was released the next day.
Investigation
The complaint which Public Prosecutor’s Office is handling was made in 2005. The Public Prosecutor’s Office’s issued a press release saying:
“The investigation has revealed that a number of cartoons published on the internet were, according to our office, insulting to Muslims and to people of colour. Moreover, the Public Prosecutor’s Office believes the cartoons could inspire hatred.”
Gregorius Nekschot published his cartoons on his own website. Film producer and columnist Theo van Gogh, who was killed in 2004 by a Muslim extremist, also used to publish Gregorius Nekschot’s cartoons on his website. The cartoonist is known for his extremely insulting caricatures of religion and left-wing politicians. One of the reasons he was not arrested earlier is because he works anonymously - the Public Prosecutor’s Office says they simply couldn’t find him.
Political reactions
Minister Hirsch Ballin says the Netherlands has an international obligation to crack down on this type of discrimination. However, many politicians have complained about the arrest. Democrat party D66 MP Boris van der Ham has asked the minister for clarification about the arrest. Not only does he think it was carried out with an excessive show of force, he does not think the Public Prosecutor’s Office should have taken legal action against the artist. He says ‘a public debate’ is preferable to a trial.
“It’s also not true that Dutch Muslims aren’t capable of defending themselves. In the discussion of the film by Geert Wilders - Fitna - many moderate Muslims just raised their shoulders. I think the same holds true for this cartoonist, even if (the cartoons) are extremely coarse.”
“Exaggerated”
Even though he thinks the cartoons are sometimes tasteless, the lawyer Gerard Hamer does not agree with the conviction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office that they inspire hatred. He also describes the arrest of the cartoonist as “exaggerated, not right and not in agreement with the constitution.” He says the cartoonist should be able to explain his actions to the judge, without being arrested.
Mr Hamer described the arrest as “Pure intimidation”:
“If it isn’t really necessary to arrest people you shouldn’t do it. Our freedom is a great good, as is the freedom of expression. By arresting someone you have an influence on free expression. You show that because of his cartoons he has a real chance of losing his freedom. This is what they do in Zimbabwe, or in other countries; there it happens all the time. One hopes that the Amsterdam Public Prosecutor’s Office won’t end up making this a habit.”
The Dutch government said on a previous occasion that insulting religion should remain a punishable offence. Many MPs disagree and want to abolish the law. On Tuesday, Parliament will continue to debate freedom of expression and the arrest of Gregorius Nekschot.
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/080516-Dutch-cartoon
Man you beat me to it.
bump
Discrimination is when one doesn’t provide a benefit or service because someone is a member of a particular group. A cartoon is not discrimination but free speech. The Orwellian use of language will destroy the West
“around 10 police dragged the cartoonist out of his home in Amsterdam in a brutal manner. His computer and telephone were seized, according to a furious Teeuwen.”
In some ways, these PC thought police are worse than the Gestapo.
It’s a bit off topic, but this reminds me of a piece posted on Jim Sinclair’s MineSet website a few days ago, about the changes that have taken place in American culture and the West generally:
School — 1957 vs. 2007:
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won’t be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: A foreign student fails high school English.
1957 - He goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 – His cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and his English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. He is given a diploma anyway.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny’s Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
In some ways, these PC thought police are worse than the Gestapo.
To me the pc thought police ARE the Gestapo. Both use force to change beliefs. Both are arms of the Governmetn.
Hate crime laws are imposed by people who have neither the courage nor any intent to enforce them against real haters.
Can you imagine the intrepid Hirsch Ballin arresting imams? Or even a loser like de Ven?
Its not going to happen. Hate crime laws are not used to stop hate, they are used to shut up anyone who would dare to try and stop it. This is a country where people who speak out against muslim nuttery are being killed on the streets, and even government officials who dare to speak must sleep in military bases or leave the country altogether. Are the people who threaten and attack them ever charged with “hate”?
Orwell nailed it. Holland is living it.
One was a member of parliament.
That area is definitely going to the dogs fast.
Someone at State should make an inquiry of this puke Hirsch Ballin to get the names of the cops he sent on the raid so we can put them on our prohibited entry lists.
Multiculturalism (and unlimited immigration) has been a complete, unmitigated disaster from one end of Europe to the other, without exception. The ruling class has a solution: forbid anybody to talk about the problem. At some point there will be blood in the streets.
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