Europe
Dutch MP acquitted in 'hate' trial
Far-right politician Geert Wilders found not guilty of inciting hatred and
discrimination against Muslims.
David Poort Last Modified: 23 Jun 2011 07:29
Wilders, 47, faced five counts of inciting hatred and discrimination against
Muslims and immigrants [Reuters]
Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders has been acquitted by a court in
Amsterdam where he was on trial for inciting hatred and discrimination against
Muslims.
Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, has described Islam as a "fascist
ideology", comparing the Quran to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. He was acquitted
on all five charges that were pressed against him.
The judge on Thursday said that Wilders' statements were "rude and
condescending" but not a criminal offence according to Dutch law.
"The bench finds that your statements are acceptable within the context of the
public debate," the judge told Wilders, who has been on trial in the Amsterdam
regional court since last October.
Wilders has said he has a "problem with Islamic tradition, culture, [and]
ideology; not with Muslim people".
The judge interpreted Wilders' remarks as challenging Islam as an ideology,
which is not a criminal offence in the Netherlands. "[
] although gross and
degenerating, it did not give rise to hatred," the judge said.
Freedom of speech
A collection of minority groups that view Wilders' comments as having
overstepped the boundaries of free speech first pressed charges in 2007;
however, the Dutch public prosecution refused to pursue Wilders, saying it did
not believe in a successful outcome to the case.
In 2009 an Amsterdam appeals court overturned that decision and ordered an
investigation into "Fitna"
("Discord" in Arabic) - a short film Wilders produced on alleged Islamic
extremism.
The case against Wilders started in January 2010, but then collapsed following
claims that the judges were biased. It was re-started a month later.
Wilders' supporters labelled the case a left-wing conspiracy and a head-on
attack on freedom of expression in the Netherlands.
On the other side of the spectrum, anti-Wilders groups warned the plaintiffs of
the consequences of giving the politician a platform, fearing it would only
raise his profile further.
Wilders formed his Freedom Party [PVV] - now the country's third largest party
- after defecting from the VVD [right-wing liberals] in 2004 and has seen his
following grow ever since.
Wilders' anti-Islamic and anti-establishment ideas won the PVV 15 per cent of
the vote at the 2010 election.
Wilders, who remained silent throughout most of the proceedings, argued in his
final statement on 6 May that: "The Netherlands is under threat of Islam. Truth
and freedom are inextricably connected. We must speak the truth because
otherwise we shall lose our freedom."
He reminded the court of Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn, who was murdered in 2002
by a left-wing environmentalist for his political ideas, and Dutch film maker
Theo van Gogh, who was murdered by a Muslim extremist in 2004 after making
comments on Islam.
"I am here because of what I have said," Wilders stated, "I am here for having
spoken. I have spoken, I speak and I shall continue to speak. Many have kept
silent, but not Pim Fortuyn, not Theo van Gogh, and not me."
Source:
Al Jazeera
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Topics in this article
People
* Geert Wilders
* Pim Fortuyn
* Theo van Gogh
* Adolf Hitler
Country
* The Netherlands
City
* Amsterdam
Organisation
* Freedom Party
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