Geert Wilders vs. Islamic Executioners: A Courtroom Battle Against Fatwas, Media Complicity, and Leftist Betrayal

September 2, 2024—In a pivotal moment for the Netherlands and the broader Western world, Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), stood in absentia at a high-security court near Amsterdam today to deliver a powerful speech in the ongoing trial of two Pakistani Islamic men who issued a fatwa against him. This trial is not just about the prosecution of these individuals; it is a direct confrontation with the battle that Islam has waged against one of the bravest defenders of Western values. Wilders, who has become one of the most hunted men in the world for simply speaking historical and scriptural truth about Islam, stood resolute. He refused to be silenced by terrorists, the left-wing enablers who support them, and a weaponized media against the West.

A Life Under Siege by Islamic Extremism

The relentless persecution of Geert Wilders began nearly two decades ago when his vocal opposition to Islam made him a prime target for Islamic extremists. On November 4, 2004, the Dutch government, recognizing the imminent threat to his life, forcibly removed Wilders from his home, giving him just ten minutes to pack his belongings. Since that night, Wilders and his wife have lived in a state of constant siege, moving from one safe house to another, surrounded at all times by bodyguards. “We have lost our freedom and privacy,” Wilders recounted in court. “Everywhere I go, I am constantly surrounded by bodyguards.”

This forced isolation was a direct result of Wilders’ unwavering stance against the Islamization of the Netherlands. Alongside Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a one-time fellow member of the Dutch Parliament and a fierce critic of Islam, Wilders became a target of Islamic death threats. While Hirsi Ali eventually fled to the United States, Wilders chose to stay and fight, founding the Party for Freedom, which has since grown to become the largest party in the Dutch government coalition.

The Fatwa: Islam’s Weapon Against Free Speech

At the heart of today’s trial is the prosecution of two Islamic Pakistani citizens, Muhammed Ashraf Asif Jalali and Saad Hussain Rizvi, who issued a fatwa against Wilders, calling for his assassination. Dutch prosecutors have demanded a 14-year sentence for Jalali and six years for Rizvi, both of whom were tried in absentia due to Pakistan’s lack of an extradition treaty with the Netherlands.

Wilders, known for his staunch defense of free speech, reminded the court that this fight is not just about him. “Fatwas, death threats, being on the death list of the Taliban and ISIS—nothing will ever stop me from telling the inconvenient truth,” he declared. The fatwa against Wilders is not merely a personal attack; it is a calculated move to intimidate and silence anyone who dares to criticize Islam. “Fatwas are a direct assault on freedom of speech,” Wilders stated, highlighting the broader implications of this trial. The fatwa issued against him is part of a larger campaign to impose Islamic law and silence dissent in Western societies. “The essence of Mufti Jalali’s fatwa is that he… called for me to be killed, hanged, beheaded, and he then put that fatwa online in a speech in a room full of people and said that the fatwa is irrevocable. In his words: ‘Our fatwa is final.’ So it still applies and is forever,” Wilders emphasized. He also noted, “I cannot recall that a mufti, in this case from Pakistan, has been tried in the Netherlands before because he pronounced a fatwa on a Dutch politician.”

Jalali, a 56-year-old religious leader, used his platform to incite his followers by promising them “rewards in the afterlife” if they killed Wilders. Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, is also accused of calling for Wilders’s assassination. The fatwa and these threats were sparked by Wilders’ 2018 announcement of a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which led to widespread protests across the Muslim world. Although the contest was eventually canceled due to security concerns, the threats against Wilders have continued unabated.

Standing Firm Against Terrorism

Wilders’ relentless commitment to exposing the dangers of Islam has made him a prime target for terrorists worldwide. Another example of this occurred in May 2015, when Wilders attended a cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, where artists were invited to depict the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. The event was a deliberate assertion of free speech and a challenge to the Islamic prohibition on depicting the Prophet, as this Sharia prohibition should apply to adherent Muslims only and not be imposed on the world.

The contest became a flashpoint when two heavily armed Islamic terrorists attempted to storm the venue. Fortunately, they were stopped before causing significant harm, but the incident highlighted the ever-present danger Wilders faces for criticizing Islam. Despite the Islamic attack, Wilders remains steadfast in his belief that Western values, particularly freedom of expression, must not yield to the dictates of religious extremism. “There is no reason why this prohibition should apply to non-Muslims,” Wilders asserted, reinforcing his stance that Islamic laws should not be imposed on Western societies.

Wilders has faced multiple assassination attempts, including a 2018 plot by Pakistani national Junaid Iqbal, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for preparing a terrorist attack against him. The same year, former Pakistani cricket captain Khalid Latif was sentenced to 12 years for offering a bounty for Wilders’ murder. Despite these continued Islamic threats, Wilders has continued to speak out. “I have literally filed thousands of reports over the last twenty years against people all over the world who say they want to kill me… It never stops,” Wilders recounted. He further illustrated the extreme measures taken for his safety: “I have worn fake mustaches and wigs to be unrecognizable. And when we went to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws in Hungary, we flew with security guards in an otherwise empty cargo plane of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.” He added, “Every day, you get up and leave for work in armored cars, often with sirens. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you are always aware that it could be your last day.”

A Historic Trial Against Islamic Extremism

Today’s trial against Imam Jalali, the TLP party leader, is a pivotal moment in the fight against Islamic terror. Wilders highlighted the global reach of Jalali’s fatwa, which calls for his death and has been spread to millions of followers through social media. “Please realize that Pakistan has 230 million inhabitants, and the political party of which Jalali is the leader has tens of millions of followers,” Wilders warned the court.

The public prosecutor, who requested anonymity due to security concerns from Muslims, emphasized that Jalali had great influence in Pakistan and used his position to incite violence against Wilders. “The aim of the suspect was to kill Wilders,” the prosecutor stated. He urged the court to send a strong signal by imposing the maximum sentence. “The suspect has probably never been to the Netherlands. He wanted to influence the debate here in a completely unacceptable way. The Public Prosecution Service takes this very seriously,” the prosecutor asserted.

In his speech, Wilders described the immense personal cost of standing up to Islam. “I will never get back those twenty years of lost freedom,” he said, his voice filled with the weight of two decades of living in fear for his life. “But I hope that your court will send a message that no one, not even mullahs, can get away with issuing a fatwa to kill someone in a constitutional state.”

The Left’s Complicity and the Media’s Silence

Wilders’ battle is not just against Islamic jihad; it is also against the left-wing forces that have allied with Islam and aided and abetted those who seek to destroy him. The media, which should be defending freedom of speech, has instead turned a blind eye to the threats against Wilders, often portraying him as the villain rather than the victim. Wilders emphasized that these threats have not been adequately condemned, further emboldening those who wish to silence critics of Islam. “Fatwas never go away. Look at Salman Rushdie… Fatwas are the worst,” he reminded the court.

This trial, therefore, is not just about bringing two men to justice; it is about exposing the broader complicity of those who have allowed Islamic terrorism to fester in Western societies. Wilders has consistently warned that the permissive approach of countries like Pakistan towards Islamic terrorism poses a grave threat to the West. “Pakistan’s permissive approach towards Islamic terrorist clerics, groups, and parties endangers not only the country’s own moderate Muslims and its non-Muslim minority but encourages extremist Pakistanis to impose their violent ideology in Western countries,” Wilders argued.

A Call to Defend the West

Geert Wilders’ courage in the face of relentless threats is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy. His battle against the fatwas and the forces that seek to silence him is not just a personal struggle but a fight for the survival of Western civilization. As he stands trial today, Wilders remains one of the bravest defenders of the West, unyielding in his resolve to speak the truth, no matter the cost. “Mr. Jalali is partly responsible for me losing my freedom and having to live as a half-prisoner to survive… I hope that your court will also send that message in your verdict. That no one, not even mullahs, can get away with issuing a fatwa to kill someone in a constitutional state,” Wilders urged.

The public prosecutor called for 14 years in prison for Jalali and six years for Rizvi. A verdict is expected on September 9. This trial and its verdict are crucial moments in the ongoing battle between free speech and Western fundamental values Vs. Islam and authoritarian, terrorist ones. For Wilders and for all who cherish freedom, this is a fight that must be won.