When laws become long and cumbersone, we are colluding with specail interests.

This is interesting, because we either have free political speech or we do not. If we have blasphemy rules, (which is what stating one can call a group into disrepute is) we have unfree speech.

Wilders entered the dock amid heavy security and promptly affirmed his commitment to free speech, dismissing the charges against him while not entering a plea.

He faces a hefty fine or a year in jail if found guilty on five charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and insulting their religion for likening, as he routinely does, the Qur’an to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and describing Islam as fascist.

“I am on trial, but on trial with me is the freedom of expression of many Dutch citizens,” he told the Amsterdam district court. “I can assure you, I will continue proclaiming it.”

Wilders then asserted his right to remain silent for the rest of the trial, prompting a comment from the presiding judge, Jan Moors, which was challenged by Wilders’s lawyer.

Moors said Wilders was known for making bold statements but avoiding discussions, adding: “It appears you’re doing so again.”

Bram Moszkowicz, representing Wilders, said the comment gave the appearance that Moors was biased and moved to have him substituted.

The hearing was suspended while other judges consider the complaint. They are to rule tomorrow on Wilders’s challenge, meaning that a new panel of three judges could be appointed, delaying the trial by several months.

“I thought I had a right to a fair trial, including the right to remain silent,” said Wilders. “It is scandalous that the judge passes comment on that. A fair trial is not possible with judges like that.”

via Geert Wilders trial halted as lawyer accuses judge of bias | World news | The Guardian.

We now have judges running a form of the inquisition. Wilders is a heretic. As this is a crime of exceptional nature, he cannot even keep silent.

For the elite are most intolerant if they are challenged. Paul Henry yesterday asked about the ethnicity of the next governer-general: our current one is a kiwi Indian. This offended a Yarpie communist who was appointed by the previous socailists to be our person of perpetual offence:

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said Henry showed appalling ignorance.

“The implication of his comments seems to be that anyone of Indian or Asian descent cannot be a New Zealander and should not hold public office unless they `look or speak like one’,” he said.

“I am intrigued to know what Paul Henry’s definition is of looking and speaking like a New Zealander, given that New Zealand’s population includes 650,000 people of Asian descent and many people of different ethnicities who speak English with a wide variety of accents.”

A spokeswoman for TVNZ said there had been two complaints this morning.

However; “The audience tell us over and over again that one of the things they love about Paul Henry is that he’s prepared to say the things we quietly think but are scared to say out loud,” she said.

“The question of John Key is the same, we want the answer but are to scared to ask.”

Mr de Bres found TVNZ’s response concerning.

Mr de Bres, you are a member of the inquisition. We have a right to think. We have a right to speak. And you dare not limit this: If you defend the “dath to Kufir” shouting of the Islamic Rageboy and condemn those who question your defecation on the rights and traditions of your adopted home, you are a hypocrite as well as a traitor.

Link back to Psycho Milt.