Congress’s resolution condemning the 1915 Armenian genocide gives Turkey a chance to disavow a grotesque state crime and abandon its hideous charade of bullying, propaganda and falsified history says Nouritza Matossian
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Paul Martin, the British freelance journalist who was arrested on 14 February whilst attending the trial of Hamas activist Mohammed Abu Muaileq, has had his detention extended by a Hamas military court. Martin, who is accused of helping the former militant and collaborating with the Israeli army, will be held for at least another 15 days.
The editor of the Mauritanian website Taqadoumy has been freed from a two-year jail sentence for violating public decency, inciting revolt and “criminal publication”. Hanevy Ould Dehah was pardoned by the Islamic Republic of Mauritania’s president Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz in honour of the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday just weeks into his prison term. Dehah was originally arrested on 18 June 2009 following a complaint from Ibrahim Sarr, head of the opposition Alliance for Justice and Democracy Movement party, over an article detailing his personal fortune. He was then retried by the Supreme Court on the same charge last month.
The controversial far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders arrived in the UK today to attend a screening of his anti-Islam film Fitna at the House of Lords. The 46-year-old leader of the Freedom Party was invited to London by the leader of the UK Independent Party (UKIP) Lord Pearson of Rannoch. The 17-minute film, which focuses on Islamic terrorism and depicts the Koran burning and provoked widespread anger around the world and demonstrations are expected in Westminster this afternoon.
Wilders was due to enter the country last February, but was detained on landing at Heathrow airport and ordered to return to Amsterdam by the then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who said his presence had the potential to “threaten community harmony”.
Wilders has since had this ban overturned and seen his popularity rise in the Netherlands. In last week’s local elections, the Freedom Party polled second in The Hague, one of the country’s largest cities and the seat of the Dutch government.
Wilders is currently on trial in the Netherlands for fomenting hatred and discrimination and if convicted could face two years in prison.
Oliver Kamm, leader writer for The Times, writing for Index on Censorship earlier this year argued that Wilders should not be charged for expressing his views and described the Dutch authorities’ decision to prosecute as a “monstrous abuse of power”.
Allowing ideas to die in place of their adherents is a mark of a civilised society. It is not hyperbole to say that in the defence of the unlikely figure of Geert Wilders lies also the defence of western civilization.
Wilders is holding a press conference with UKIP at 12:30.