You may have picked up from the news this past week that controversial Dutch right-wing politician, Geert Wilders, has been on a lecture tour of Australia, speaking in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.   In Melbourne there were scuffles between protestors and those wishing to attend.   In Perth his talk was cancelled when the venue pulled the plug on the event.

Wilders has expressed concern claiming that his own country is less free and less safe as a result of Muslim immigration.   He acknowledges that there are many lovely Muslim people who desire to fit into the culture of the land into which they have immigrated.   However he also claims that by and large Muslim communities are ruled by fear and terror.   He argues that this is because Islam is not just a religion but a totalitarian ideology.   He suggests that wherever large numbers of Muslims gather there is a push to impose Sharia (Muslim) law on society.

There are some things about Wilders’ visit that seem to prove his contention.   If this is just a foreign politician airing his views why did ‘Students for Palestine’ organise their supporters to protest at his lecture in Melbourne?   Why not just concede that everyone is entitled to their opinion and that since free speech is still at this time a privilege in Australia he ought to be allowed to express his opinion without people being harassed?

A colleague, the Rev. Peter Gadsby, made the same point about protests proving Wilders’ contention when he posted this comment on Facebook, “A report in today's Australian about the visit of Geert Wilders says, ‘The Islamic Council of Victoria is concerned Mr Wilders’ speech may incite violence.’   If Islam were a ‘religion of peace’, why would the mere words of one man ‘incite violence’?”

What I found particularly telling was that Melbourne journalist, Andrew Bolt, who is rarely reticent in speaking his mind, shared with his readers the secrecy and security involved in the events where Wilders was speaking.   These included the following regulations, “ For most media opportunities we will send to you the location details the night before the event.   The venue information is privileged and confidential and must not be made available for publication or made available to a third party prior to or during the event...!   Besides your ‘tools of trade’ only one small handbag is permitted into the venues…   If you refuse to be screened, security will refuse entry.   As a security requirement, officers providing close personal protection for Mr Wilders will not allow persons to directly approach Mr Wilders without prior arrangement…!”

At the end of the lengthy list of security procedures, Bolt made the following telling comment: If criticising Islam requires this much protection, there must be something to criticise.

Wilders himself lives under constant police protection because attempts have been made on his life.   He is moved almost daily from one safe house to the next.

I should point out that I am no fan of Wilders.   His promotion of sexual freedom and his defence of the Lesbian-Gay lifestyle would put him at odds with most Christians.   Nevertheless he raises issues that our Australian society needs to listen to and debate.   In Australia our attempts to be a multicultural society have worked reasonably well.   But we do need to take notice of what has happened in other countries where the Islamisation has led to repression and persecution.   We ignore those lessons at our peril.

Meanwhile the influx of Muslims – many of whom are extremely nominal – also gives us the opportunity to share the gospel and point people to a prophet who is greater than Mohammad: the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Westendorp