Posted on 10/03/2010 5:34:51 AM PDT by atomic conspiracy
Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders, set to become a shadow partner of the next coalition government, goes on trial in Amsterdam on Monday for inciting hatred against Muslims.
The controversial politician with his signature shock of blonde-dyed hair risks up to a year in jail or a €7,600 fine, according to prosecutors, for calling Islam "fascist" and likening the Quran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.
"This is about freedom of speech," Wilders' lawyer Bram Moszkowicz told AFP.
"My client believes that in the Netherlands, one must be able to say whatever one wants, barring incitement to violence."
Wilders, 47, will stand trial on five charges of giving religious offence to Muslims and inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and people of non-western immigrant origin, particularly Moroccans.
The target of death threats, Wilders enjoys 24-hour state-sponsored protection while pursuing his mission to "stop the Islamisation of the Netherlands".
He campaigns for a stop to Muslim immigration, banning the construction of new mosques, and a tax on headscarves.
On the long list of utterances made between October 2006 and March 2008 in Dutch newspapers and on Internet forums, prosecutors say that Wilders described Islam as "the sick ideology of Allah and Mohammed" and its holy book as "the Islamic Mein Kampf".
Among the exhibits is Wilders' 17-minute film, "Fitna", alleged to depict Islam as a force bent on destroying the West and whose screening in the Netherlands in 2008 prompted protests in much of the Muslim world.
Ever defiant, Wilders "is of the opinion that he did not say anything punishable," Moszkowicz said. Top
Banned from Britain
Wilders, who was temporarily banned from Britain last year on race hate grounds, is expected to elaborate on this theme when he addresses judge Jan Moors from the dock of the Amsterdam district court on Monday morning.
The court will hear evidence on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by the prosecution's penalty request the following week.
Wilders will plead on October 19, and judgment is expected on November 4, according to a program provided by the court.
No witnesses will testify. The evidence of three experts for the prosecution was submitted in writing, while Wilders' three witnesses, said to be "experts on Islam", were heard by an examining judge behind closed doors.
In June 2008, the prosecuting service dismissed dozens of complaints against Wilders from around the country, citing his right to freedom of speech.
But appeals judges ordered in January 2009 that he be put on trial as his utterances were "sowing hatred" and exceeded the boundaries of political debate.
Compelled to put Wilders in the dock, the prosecution could still ask the court to acquit him, prosecution spokesman Franklin Wattimena told AFP.
Home Affairs spokesman Frank Wassenaar added that Wilders, if convicted, would only be disqualified from holding a parliamentary seat if the judge declared him ineligible -- which would be unprecedented.
Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) came third in June 9 elections with 24 seats out of 150 in the Dutch lower house of parliament.
Under a coalition deal being finalized, his PVV will provide a minority cabinet of the Christian Democrats and liberals the majority they need to pass decisions through parliament in return for a voice in policy formation.
At the announcement Thursday of a draft coalition agreement, Wilders said the Netherlands will introduce a burqa ban and halve immigration.
Note the comments on this article:
"BY REFUSING TO STAND BY WILDERS, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA SIGNALS THAT HE WON'T LIFT A FINGER TO DEFEND FREEDOM AGAINST THE MUSLIM ASSAULT. A NEW POLL SHOWS ONLY 39% OF US VOTERS WOULD VOTE FOR OBAMA AGAIN."
So it’s OK to preach hatred against Christians and Jews, and to kill Christians and Jews, but condemning the violence and hatred is called a hate crime.
Isn’t it funny how the only people who seemed to have been incited towards violence by Gert’s comments are the Muslims not those, supposedly, hateful white people.
Mel
Islam needs to be wiped off the face of the earth.
Yeah, I’m still waiting around for mobs of Dutch Christians and secularists to pour into the streets and start burning cars in response to one of Geert’s speeches.
It reminds me a lot of all the rioting and looting the media expect to break out any minute at Tea Party rallies.
/
Lies, lies and damn lies - you would think by now even the stupiest person would realise that the media is just propogating the socilaist lie when nothing of the sort ever happens!
Mel
Then again there are some really stupid people around!
I can’t ever recall seeing the words “anti-Christian” used in any controlled media article.
Funny, that.
“...the media is just propagating the socialist lie...”
I believe the Marxist, Communist, progressives, media types, and Muslims did not count on how powerful and direct the Internet can be at informing people - giving them direct access to information that one can develop an opinion based on facts and other sources - at this point the media has become irrelevant and boring...
I think theirs a core of people here on FR - and they get the word out...people are starting to realize the media cannot be trusted...
Prayers for Mr. Wilder
“So it’s OK to preach hatred against Christians and Jews, and to kill Christians and Jews, but condemning the violence and hatred is called a hate crime”
In today’s politically correct climate, you are exactly right.
Geert Wilders is the closest thing The Netherlands has to a modern-day Winston Churchill.
The English-speaking West needs to see a similar figure arise. Not sure if that’s going to happen.
Without someone (or several someones) to re-kindle the spirits of The West to arise and fight, a victory over Islam becomes impossible.
I think you are right - the new media has helped aided by FR type people who use whatever means they can to get people informed. One of the main reasons I signed up for, the ever annoying, facebook is to post links to stories which give people a different veiw on what’s happening in the world particularly my pet hate globul warming. I have been pleasantly surprised by the reaction of many although I try to use links that are not condescending to others but that try to concentrate on the facts. No wonder the b#stards want control of the net.
Cheers
Mel
This is a country that sells drugs & hookers openly on the streets & they are going to regret this action against freedom of speech.
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