So Wilders tried getting into the UK anyway and got turned away at Heathrow:
A Dutch MP who called the Koran a “fascist book” has been sent back to the Netherlands after attempting to defy a ban on entering the UK.
Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders had been invited to show his controversial film – which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism – in the UK’s
House of Lords.But Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, has been denied entry by the Home Office.
He told the BBC it was a “very sad day” for UK democracy.
The Dutch ambassador was also at Heathrow to make clear his government’s opposition to the ban on Mr Wilders entering the UK.
Schadenfreude or not, the way in which the UK government handled l’affaire Wilders was really cackhanded. By banning him from the country they’ve overinflated his importance, gave him another chance to play martyr for free speech and got him a shitload of free media attention, more than he could’ve gotten showing his nasty little film in the House of Lords. Showing Fitna there might have been a provocation, but the way this was handled you still have the provocation but now with added legitimisation.