Geert Wilders won his appeal against the decision barring him from the UK.
"The appeal has been upheld," a tribunal spokeswoman said.
Wilders told AFP he was "very happy".
"It is a victory for freedom of speech," he said in The Hague. "I will now consider if and when I will go to the United Kingdom. I was invited to make a speech to the House of Lords, and I intend to do so."
A Home Office spokesman said the government was "disappointed" by the ruling.
"We are disappointed by the court's decision today. The government opposes extremism is all its forms," he said.
Wilders challenged the Brits on their ban and won! Taking on evil is all in a day's work for the man. Next week he comes to Ahmadinejad's old NY stomping grounds, Columbia University. And Atlas will be there to give you the blow by blow. :)
I wouldn't miss that press conference for the world. I am sure the leftopaths and the Muslim extremists will give him a warm welcome. They have a special fondness for freedom fighters.
More here:
On the heels of the Victory of Dutch Politician Geert Wilders in a U.K., Immigration Tribunal overturning the controversial ban against his entry to Britain comes news of his apperance at my alma mater, Columbia University (CU). A BWOG post, "College Republicans Go for a Dutch-Flavored Controversy" revealed that Wilders will appear at an event limited to Columbia ID holders and invited guest on Wednesday, October 21st at 8:30PM in the Frank Altschul auditorium of the School of International Public Affairs (SIPA). We had been working diligently with the event co-sponsors, the CU College Republicans, the CU Chapter of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East and the David Horowitz Freedom Center. Additional sponsors of the CU Wilders event include Columbia Political Union, the Columbia University International Relations Forum, and the Columbia International Relations Council and Association.
In an ironic turn of events, the Wilders event at CU is payback for the controversial apperance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia in 2007 that we chronicled in a New English Review article, " President Bollinger, President Ahmadinejad andColumbia's Faculty Cabal." The Faculty cabal that foisted the Ahmadinejad visit on CY Presidentg Bollinger came largely from prominent members of SIPA.
The BWOG post on the Wilders visit notes:
"Wait," most readers are saying, "who?" Well, Wilders is the head of the Party for Freedom, a right-wing party particularly noted for its hardline views on immigration and Islam; far from being a fringe movement, the party finished 2nd, with 17% of the vote, in the recent EU elections. His anti-Islam film Fitna has received international condemnation, with most countries refusing to allow its airing. For more, let's kick it over to the smart people at the Economist: "[Wilders] has publicly questioned the loyalty of two cabinet members with dual nationality (ie, Turkish and Moroccan as well as Dutch). He called a third minister “barking mad” because of her liberal integration policies. And he has demanded a ban on immigration from Muslim countries. Mr Wilders might seem just a provocateur. But his power lies in the rhetoric that he uses to contrast such liberal notions as gay rights and female emancipation with the image of an intolerant and anti-modern Islam...Polls show that the Dutch rate freedom of speech as one of their most important values—and many see Mr Wilders as its champion."
Here's what the CUCR release said about the Wilders event they are sponsoring:
Wilders has been vigorously supporting the consideration of a law in the EU providing guarantees of free speech akin to our First Amendment rights. But he is currently the victim of anti-free speech policies throughout Europe. He is the subject of criminal proceedings in his native Holland for his views. An Interpol warrant for his arrest has been issued by a court in the Kingdom of Jordan, where he is accused of defaming Islam. He was banned from entry to the United Kingdom to attend a private meeting at the House of Lords and the showing of his controversial film, Fitna, although as a Member of Parliament in the EU he has rights of free access. Columbia University College Republicans has found his silencing by the governments in Europe to be a gross violation of free speech.
Wilders graduated from the Dutch Open University with a Law degree but wanted to see the world and spent several years in Israel and neighboring Arab countries. Back in the Netherlands, he worked in the health insurance industry before entering politics. After serving as a council member in Utrecht, he entered national politics as a member of the People's Party, but broke with it in 2004 to found his own Party for Freedom. According to polls conducted among Dutch voters, he is the most popular political figure in the Netherlands.
The David Horowitz Freedom Center (DHFC)) was instrumental in reaching out to the CUCR for this CU event for Wilders. The DHFC in Philadelphia has also worked with Temple University Republicans for an event on Tuesday, October 20th, as well as a closed VIP luncheon for Mr. Wilders on Thursday, October 22nd. I'll be there as well ...... oorah.
We commend the courage of the CUCR student sponsors, CU SPME faculty leaders and the David Horowitz Freedom Center contingent we have worked for this Columbia Wilders event. We earnestly hope these events in New York and Philadlephia sends a resounding message of resolve to fight for free speech on America's elite campuses.
UPDATE: Come to Philly for Wilders. Sign up here. Go!
