Republican Party Dinner Cancelled Amid Concerns Over Anti-Islamist Speaker

Citing safety concerns, the Boca West Country Club has decided to cancel hosting the Palm Beach Republican Party’s Lobsterfest dinner after learning more about the keynote speaker who is controversial for his anti-Islamist views.

Geert Wilders was recently a key participant in a $10,000 contest held in Texas which invited participants to draw images of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, a practice banned under Islamic law. That contest also attracted two gunmen who planned to kill attendees with assault rifles, before police managed to shoot and kill the suspects. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the thwarted attack.

Islamic extremists have been responsible for several recent attacks involving retaliation against depicting imagery of the prophet. After the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published images of Muhammad, gunmen stormed the publication’s offices and fatally shot 12 staffers.

Wilders, a Dutch politician, is an outspoken critic of Islamic extremism. He is controversial for several moves such as linking the Qur’an to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and trying to get the scripture banned in the Netherlands.

“At the time the reservation for the dinner was made, no one in management or in the catering department at Boca West knew the identity of the keynote speaker,” said Boca West Board Chairman Bob Locke in an interview with the Palm Beach Post. “Due to the potential safety concerns associated with Mr. Wilders’ appearance, we have elected to cancel reservation for this private event.”