DUTCH ANTI-ISLAM LAWMAKER TO SPEAK IN PRAGUE(Czech Rep.)

24/11/2009- The controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders will arrive in Prague in end-November and present his opinions, senator Jiri Oberfalzer (Civic Democrats, ODS) told CTK yesterday, adding that he will not appear in the Senate as originally planned, however, but at another place. The Senate media commission, of which Oberfalzer is chairman, abolished Wilders's invitation to the Senate last week after Senate chairman Premysl Sobotka (ODS) and the ODS dissociated themselves from the event. The invitation was also criticised by the chairmen of the foreign committees of both houses of parliament who are Social Democrat (CSSD) members. They said Wilders's opinions are xenophobic. Wilders, critic of Islamism and immigration, will arrive at the invitation of Oberfalzer and euRABIA.cz server that is orientated similarly like Wilders. Oberfalzer said Wilders will make a lecture in Palace Aventin in Prague centre that will be followed by a discussion on November 30. "Nothing else will be held," he said. Wilders's original programme included the screening of his anti-Islam film Fitna that combines shots from terrorist attacks after the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001 and anti-West speeches accompanied by Quran recitation. Oberfalzer said people interested to attend Wilders's lecture will register at the above server. "We need some control of who will come there so that some Nazis do not rush there that could turn the event into a racist one," Oberfalzer said. The server that focuses on Islam's influence in Europe has not offered any opportunity of registration or details of Wilders's lecture until this evening. Wilders is to talk in Prague about freedom of expression and Islamisation of Europe. Freedom of expression was used by Oberfalzer to justify Wilder's invitation to the Czech Republic. "Not everyone may like Wilders's rhetoric, but it is in the interest of democratic discussion to listen to what he says," Oberfalzer said. Wilders "may be saying controversial, but basically truthful things," Oberfalzer said previously, adding that he does not agree with his proposals, however. He did not elaborate. Oberfalzer like Wilders is critical of the Lisbon treaty.
© The Prague Daily Monitor