Opinion leaders in Turkey welcome Wilders visit

The Turkish government fears a visit by Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders will have negative consequences for its relations with the Netherlands and Europe. But both secular and religious Turks say they welcome a debate with him.

The spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs in Ankara wants to make one thing perfectly clear. "The decision whether or not Geert Wilders will be allowed to enter in January and who he will talk to has yet to be made. It is up to the prime minister to publicly disclose it."

But will explain the "philosophy of Turkish foreign policy" which is: "We feel the ideas of Geert Wilders are racist and unacceptable. That is why no one here is eager to roll out the red carpet for him, and neither are many other European capitals. The media attention for his coming to Turkey will overshadow all other members of the delegation and jeopardise the excellent relations we have with the Netherlands. We have to draw the line somewhere (...)