Banning Geert Wilders from entering UK

Submitted by J Eva (United States), Feb 12, 2009 at 15:26

I don't have a view about Mr Wilder's video. However, I thought freedom of expression was just that - the freedom to express yourself, and be judged on the form and content of what you say or depict. While accusing this man of "fascism", others who absurdly assume they have the right to protect the rest of us (just as many despots in the past have done- think of Hitler's book-burning and persecution of non-believers in nazism) use the machinery of state to ban people whose views they don't like or don't want to hear.

In Apartheid South Africa, too, "banning orders" were common. How can there even be a debate if one side can't put forward their point ? Or is the point that debate is no longer required in our modern age, where the politicians know all that is needed to be known ?

Interesting, too, isn't it, that while these things go on, we have a goverment strongly in favour of increasing periods of detention without trial ?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".