Dutch party chief barred from UK

The United Kingdom took the unusual step, February 2009, of banning a Dutch member of parliament from entering the country due to his stridently anti-Islamic views, prompting the Dutch government to protest. Geert Wilders, who heads the anti-immigration Party for Freedom, had been due to travel to London on the 12 February 2009 for a screening of his film, Fitna, organised by Lord Pearson of Rannoch, a eurosceptic peer. The film criticises Islam, one of Mr Wilders’ main targets.

BBC News, 12.2.09: Dutch MP refused entry to Britain http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7885918.stm

NRC Handelsblad, 12.2.09: Geert Wilders stopped in London http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2149956.ece/Geert_Wilders_stopped_in_London

Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 12.2.09: UK sends Wilders home http://www.rnw.nl/english

ESO: Background information: Dutch MP who criticised Islam faces trial http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-mp-who-criticised-islam-faces-trial/

BBC News, 11.2.09: Dutch MP banned from entering UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7882953.stm

Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 11.2.09: Wilders to flout UK entry ban http://www.rnw.nl/english

NRC Handelsblad, 11.2.09: Geert Wilders refused entry to UK http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2148362.ece/Geert_Wilders_refused_entry_to_UK

BBC News, 14.10.09: Banned Dutch MP plans UK journey http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8306665.stm

NRC Handelsblad, 13.10.09: Court rules that UK was wrong tp bar Geert Wilders http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2385570.ece/Court_rules_UK_was_wrong_to_bar_Geert_Wilders

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