'We, the Ahanta, Are Not Happy at All'

Those Ahanta sure are hard to please.

The descendants of an African chief who was hanged and decapitated by a Dutch general 171 years ago reluctantly accepted the return of his severed head Thursday, still angry even as the Dutch tried to right a historic wrong.

The head of King Badu Bonsu II was discovered last year in a jar of formaldehyde gathering dust in the anatomical collection of the Leiden University Medical Center. The Dutch government, embarrassed by its discovery, agreed to Ghanaian demands that the relic be returned.

On Thursday, members of the king's Ahanta tribe, dressed in dark robes and wearing red sashes, took part in the hand-over ceremony, honoring his spirit by toasting with Dutch gin and then sprinkling the drink over the floor at the Dutch Foreign Ministry.

But descendants of the chief said they were not consoled.

"I am hurt, angry. My grandfather has been killed," said Joseph Jones Amoah, the great, great grandson of the chief.

The chief's head was stored elsewhere at the ministry and was not displayed during the ceremony. It is expected to be flown with the tribe members back to Ghana on Friday.

Tribal elders said after the hand-over that they were also angry because they had been sent by their current chief only to identify the head, not retrieve it. Taking it back without first reporting to the chief would be a breach of protocol, they said.

"We, the Ahanta, are not happy at all," said Nana Etsin Kofi II.

Can This Be Blamed On Conservatives?

Last week the left was wetting their pants with glee in an effort to blame the right for the shooting of the police officers in Pittsburgh by some deranged Alex Jones fan.

Today there was a shooting in a Dutch cafe.

A man with a pistol killed one person and wounded three others at a cafe in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Saturday morning, a police spokesman said.

Patrons at the cafe managed to capture the shooter, a 45-year-old man, and hold him until police arrived, Rotterdam Police spokesman Gerde Jung told CNN.

Police arrested the man and recovered his weapon, Jung said.

Who can we blame this one on? The gun? Fox News? Glenn Beck? Leftwing bloggers?

Or maybe the individual responsible?

Fitna Breaks No Laws

So say the Dutch.

Expect much outrage and seething today.

Fitna, the short feature film on Islam and violence put together by MP Geert Wilders does not break the law, the public prosecution department said on Monday, according to news agency ANP.

In addition, a number of statements about Islam made by Wilders over the past few months are also within legal limits, ANP reported Amsterdam's chief public prosecutor Leo de Wit as saying.

Fitna, a 16-minute compilation of video footage, was released on the internet on March 27. An article in the Volkskrant newspaper in which Wilders called for a ban on the Koran was also investigated.

Dutch Cartoonist Who Makes Fun of Muslims and Leftists Arrested

Just a sneak preview of what's in store for us here in America in the not-too-distant future.

All criticism of liberals and their Islamic overlords will be strictly forbidden and you'll be lucky to stay out of jail, or re-education facility as they'll probably call it.

More enlightened European tolerance.

A Dutch political cartoonist was arrested this week on suspicion of insulting people because of their race or religion through his work, authorities said Friday.

The cartoonist, who works under the pseudonym Gregorius Nekschot, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of violating hate speech laws and held overnight before being released, said a spokeswoman for his publisher, Uitgeverij Xtra.

"He was arrested with a great show of force, by around 10 policemen," the spokeswoman said.

She asked that her name not be used and declined to give Nekschot's real name because the cartoonist and publisher have received death threats.

Nekschot is known primarily for cartoons mocking Muslims and leftists, though the spokeswoman said he is a satirist who targets "any strong ideology."

Amsterdam public prosecutor spokeswoman Sanne van Meteren said Nekschot remains a suspect in a criminal investigation.

"We suspect him of insulting people on the basis of their race or belief, and possibly also of inciting hate," she said.

That's right, folks. According to the bizarro world of leftists, cartoons can incite hate.

Actually, cartoons inspire murder. Just look at all the victims of the freakazoid Islamists who are still going crazy over the Motoons.

No word, naturally, as to whether those issuing death threats are under investigation.

Nekschot publishes primarily on several Web sites, including his own, but has also been featured on the Web site of Theo van Gogh, the filmmaker who was murdered by a Muslim radical in November 2004.

'It Is a Very Bad Example to People to Let Him Say Whatever He Wants'

The sad thing about these folks is Geert Wilders is speaking up while he still has the chance.

Those wetting their pants over his film just aid and abet the enemies of freedom of speech.

Ironic how they trash him, yet would willingly deny him the right to speak

About one thousand people protested in central Amsterdam on Saturday against right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders and the imminent release of his film expected to be critical of the Koran.

Anti-racism protesters clad in winter clothing against the freezing cold and drizzling rain held placards that said "Enough is enough" and "Stop the witch-hunt against Muslims".

Pop and hip-hop groups entertained the crowd in between speeches by social groups.

"We can no longer remain silent. There is a climate of hate and fear in the Netherlands," said spokesman Rene Danen from anti-racism organisation Nederland Bekent Kleur (the Netherlands recognises colour differences), which had organised the protest.

There should be restrictions on what Wilders can say, said Rieke, a 61-year-old Amsterdam arts teacher who declined to give her last name.

"I think it is embarrassing what Wilders says, for example about tearing up the Koran. It is a very bad example to people to let him say whatever he wants," she said.

Wilders' film has already triggered fury in the Muslim world. The Dutch government has distanced itself from his views, fearing a backlash against the country amongst Muslims similar to that against Denmark in 2006 after newspapers there published the Prophet Mohammad cartoons.

Wilders, who has given few details about his 15-minute film, has said he plans to release "Fitna" on the Internet before the end of the month after Dutch broadcasters declined to show it. Fitna is a Koranic term sometimes translated as "strife".

"The film is not so much about Muslims as about the Koran and Islam. The Islamic ideology has as its utmost goal the destruction of what is most dear to us, our freedom," he wrote in a commentary in Dutch daily De Volkskrant on Saturday.

"Fitna is the last warning for the West. The fight for freedom has only just begun," he said.

Just wish he'd show the film already, although maybe it's just a big tease to make a point.

Dash for Cash: The Dutch Stiletto Stampede

Looks like these heels aren't quite as high as the ones worn by the ladies noted here last summer, but any time you get some women making a mad dash for cash while wearing heels, we're going to take notice.

Still, ladies, you're wearing heels, so could we, you know, see some leg at least?

Like a herd of antelope, jockeying and shoving for position, 150 young women raced down Amsterdam's most famed fashion street in stiletto heels Thursday, racing for a $15,000 prize.

The race on the P.C. Hooft street called the "Stiletto Run" is only three years old but has quickly grown in popularity and spawned imitation races in Germany, Sweden, Poland and Russia.

The race's motto is "Shopping is a Sport" and friendly competition is encouraged — though not always observed.

"At the start there was a lot of pushing, you really get elbowed over," said Fauve Stukje, 18, who came with a small entourage and a big pink sign — but failed to win, show or place.

She said she slightly regretted her choice of shoes, which were nearly 4 inches high — a little higher than the 3 1/2 inch minimum.

Memo to Geert Wilders: Show Us the Damn Film Already

I realize Geert Wilders is just thumbing his nose at the Islamists and all the rest of his critics about his upcoming movie Fitna. But I'm beginning to get a little impatient here.

We've been hearing about this for a couple of months now, and his tease is starting to get on my nerves. Today we see the website that will purportedly show the film is up and running, but all it shows is the cover of the Koran with the text "Allahu Akhbar". Curiously, this site announcing it removed the link. Probably getting death threats already.

You have an entire country already quivering in fear of the headchoppers, but they still want to see it.

A majority of Dutch people want an anti-Koran film made by a politician to be broadcast even though they fear it will stoke tension with Muslims and harm relations with Arab countries, a poll showed on Wednesday.

A newspaper reported on Monday that the Dutch government is looking into whether it could ban the film by right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders, who has likened the Koran to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, but given few details about his movie.

He has also called the Koran a "fascist" book that incites violence and said it should be banned.

Let's stop the slow tease and show it.

Wilders to Critics: Get Lost

You've got to admire Geert Wilders for at least having a pair. It's more than can be said for 99% of the politicans on the planet whose knees wobble with every threat issued by the seething Muslims who don't quite grasp the concept of freedom of speech.

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has called on right-wing politician Geert Wilders not to release his planned anti-Islam film. Mr Verhagen is the first member of the cabinet to make a direct appeal regarding Mr Wilders' controversial film plans. The Labour party has criticised the minister's statement as premature, since there is still no clear information about the content of the film.

Well, maybe they can just wait and watch it first, perhaps. Nothing more pathetic than premature capitulation.

Mr Wilders, who is head of the right-wing Freedom Party, has responded in a text message by saying his critics can "get lost".

More from DutchNews.

Meanwhile, the nonstop whining over the Mohamed cartoons continues.

"While they might have a right to publish the cartoons what they are doing is wrong, because they know how offensive it can be to Muslims," Shennawy said. "Personally, I believe that freedom of speech is good and needs to be upheld, but as an artist there is no reason to make something that will offend an entire people, especially now that they know exactly what kind of reaction they will get."

Dutch to Impose Burqa Ban, Seething to Follow

Those zany Dutchmen are really getting insensitive now, daring to free women from the oppression of having to dress up in a hefty bag in schools and government buildings.

Next thing you know, they'll insist the peaceful practitioners of Islam stop treating their women as chattel and they'll ban them outright, but that might offend the delicate sensibilities of the 7th century cavemen.

The Dutch government is set to impose a ban on the Muslim burqa in schools and government offices, media reported on Wednesday, in a retreat from the previous cabinet's plan for a general ban.

The cabinet has decided against a broad ban on burqas in public as that would violate the principle of freedom of religion, news agency ANP said, citing unnamed cabinet sources.

The Muslim community says only about 50 women wear the head-to-toe burqa or the niqab, a face veil that conceals everything but the eyes. They said a general ban would heighten alienation among the country's about 1 million Muslims.

An interior ministry spokesman said there was no final decision on the subject yet and the issue is expected to be discussed at the weekly cabinet meeting on Friday next week.

The wearing of headscarves in schools and at work is a sensitive topic across the European Union.

France, with Europe's largest Muslim minority, bans headscarves and other religious garb from state schools. Italy has a decades-old law against covering the face in public as an anti-terrorism measure.

Shortly before being voted out of office, the previous centre-right Dutch government proposed a complete ban on burqas and other Muslim face-veils in public, citing security concerns.

A new centrist coalition government of Christian Democrats, Labour and the Christian Union came into power in February 2007 and has taken a more conciliatory line on immigration.

Right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders -- who has angered Muslims with his fierce criticism of Islam -- sent a bill to parliament last July proposing a ban on the burqa in public.

Curious, isn't it, how we never read anything about the delicate sensibilities of religious minorities in Muslim countries.

Double standard, anyone?

Speaking of Wilders, here are some trailers for his new movie that we noted last week.



Here is Part 2:



Nothing like a jolt of reality.

Dutch Quaking Over Islam Film; Mass Violence Expected

They're bracing for mass seething and violence in The Netherlands as a film produced by Geert Wilders is set to debut this week.

Naturally for the Islamic fanatics, even the idea of a film casting them in a negative light has them freaking out.

The Dutch government is bracing itself for violent protests following the scheduled broadcast this week of a provocative anti-Muslim film by a radical right-wing politician who has threatened to broadcast images of the Koran being torn up and otherwise desecrated.

Cabinet ministers and officials, fearing a repetition of the crisis sparked by the publication of cartoons of Muhammad in a Danish newspaper two years ago, have held a series of crisis meetings and ordered counter-terrorist services to draw up security plans. Dutch nationals overseas have been asked to register with their embassies and local mayors in the Netherlands have been put on standby.

Geert Wilders, one of nine members of the extremist VVD (Freedom) party in the 150-seat Dutch lower house, has promised that his film will be broadcast - on television or on the internet - whatever the pressure may be. It will, he claims, reveal the Koran as 'source of inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror'.

Dutch diplomats are already trying to pre-empt international reaction. 'It is difficult to anticipate the content of the film, but freedom of expression doesn't mean the right to offend,' said Maxime Verhagen, the Foreign Minister, who was in Madrid to attend the Alliance of Civilisations, an international forum aimed at reducing tensions between the Islamic world and the West. In Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other towns with large Muslim populations, imams say they have needed to 'calm down' growing anger in their communities.

Government officials hope that no mainstream media organisation will agree to show the film, although one publicly funded channel, Nova, initially agreed before pulling out. 'A broadcast on a public channel could imply that the government supported the project,' said an Interior Ministry spokesman.

Talk about pre-emptive cowardice.

Isn't tolerance such a wonderful concept?

The Iranians, as usual, are full of bluster.

UPDATE: Instapundit links. Thanks!

Dude, Save the 'Shrooms!

What's the world coming to when people's right to hallucinate is infringed upon?

I imagine the UN will soon spring into action to resolve this international crisis.

Dutch protesters make bid to save "magic mushrooms"

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Protesters turned out on Amsterdam's central Dam Square on Saturday, hoping to stop the government from banning magic mushrooms and asking to "save the 'shrooms".

Carrying banners reading "When will they ban bread?" and "Boss of your own brain", more than 100 people, some wearing hats resembling the bright red cap of the popular fly agaric variety, protested to keep hallucinogenic mushrooms legal.

After several incidents involving tourists -- in March, a French teenager jumped to her death from a bridge after taking mushrooms -- the Dutch government plans to ban them.

Arno Adelaars, author of a book on magic mushrooms, said this would only drive users underground and what was needed instead was better information how to use mushrooms right.

"It's only foreigners who have this problem, the Dutch don't because they have good information," he said.