The limits of freedom of expression

The Dutch government is trying to persuade right-wing politician Geert Wilders not to screen his anti-Islamic film, as he had announced weeks ago. "The classical example to show that freedom of expression has limits, is that you are not allowed to shout 'Fire!' in a theatre full of people. In that light, the Dutch government is acting in a basically responsible manner in disassociating itself from extremism, and urging Wilders to think again. ... The limits of freedom of expression cannot be moved because of threats, or because other societies have not yet discovered it. But it is more than ever vital now that both governments and the rest of us insist on the right to put our foot down in relation to those who seek confrontation and conflict and leave the consequences to society. Here, the Christian Democratic Prime Minister in Holland is doing the right thing."

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