We are surprised because …? Do we really expect ideologues and/or provocateurs (not artistes) to be anything other than intellectually inconsistent, self-aggrandizing blowhards? Money quote from the article:
The lawsuit against Mr. Wilders has been hailed in the Netherlands as a good thing for democracy. I am not so sure. It makes him look more important than he should be. In fact, the response of Dutch Muslims to his film last year was exemplary: most said nothing at all. And when a small Dutch Muslim TV station offered to broadcast the film, after all other stations had refused, the grand champion of free speech resolutely turned the offer down.
I knew this, but I don’t think it got much press at the time. Glad it got a small plug in the paper of record.