Dutch far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders Tuesday called Norwegian suspect Anders Behring Breivik’s twin attacks a “slap in the face of the global anti-Islam movement.” The leader of the controversial Party for Freedom (PVV) made the statement after he was earlier Tuesday asked by Dutch media to clarify his own position, being at the forefront of verbal attacks on Islam in the Netherlands. “That the fight against Islamisation can be abused by a psychopath in such a violent way is disgusting and a slap in the face of the global anti-Islamist movement,” said Wilders in a statement issued by his party. Wilders, who last month was acquitted by a Dutch court on hate speech and discrimination charges for statements made attacking Islam, said neither he, nor his party was responsible for the 32-year-old Norwegian’s actions, who claimed to be trying to bring about an anti-Muslim revolution. “Neither the PVV, nor I, is responsible for the actions of a lonely, ill-adjusted idiot who abused the peace-loving ideals of the anti-Islamist movement in such a violent manner, no matter how much some people would like that to be the case,” he said. Wilders said he was “repulsed” by the fact that Behring Breivik referred to him and the PVV in a 1,500-page manifesto, which was published immediately before the Norwegian started his bombing and shooting spree, killing 76. “We are democrats at heart and soul. The PVV has never issued a call to violence and will never do so,” Wilders said. “We believe in the power of the ballot and the wisdom of the voter. Not bombs and pistols,” he added. The Dutch media Tuesday called on the politician — whose party claimed 24 seats in the Dutch parliament and supported Premier Mark Rutte’s ruling coalition — to clarify his statements on his fight against Islamisation in Europe to avoid similar incidents like the bombing and shooting spree in Norway.
