The hate speech case against populist right-wing politician Geert Wilders is to go ahead despite attempts by his lawyer to have the trial thrown out of court.
Judges have ruled that there is a case to answer and that the Amsterdam court is the right place to hold the trial. The politician stands accused of hatemongering and discrimination against Muslims.
Towering
Geert Wilders stands up, perfectly straight, staring straight ahead, his dyed blond hair towering over everyone else in the courtroom.
A door opens to the right of the bench, and in walk the three judges. They pause next to their chairs, and everyone in the room waits for head judge Marcel van Oosten to take his seat. The trial of Geert Wilders has become routine, a set piece.
As Mr Wilders appears in the Amsterdam courtroom today for the 15th time, everyone knows their roles. Mr Wilders and his superstar lawyer, Bram Moszkowicz, sit at the defense table facing the judges. Wilders is cold, unemotional. Moszkowicz is fidgety, can’t sit still. The two prosecutors sit to the left of the judges, their table also slightly raised from the rest of the courtroom.
Hodgepodge of do-gooders
Where Mr Moszkowicz radiates money and influence, the lawyers for the injured parties are a hodgepodge of former activists and do-gooders. And one never knows which of them will show up on any given day.
We journalists sit behind Mr Wilders, taking notes and sending tweets. Saskia from the popular daily de Telegraaf, Martijn from Business News Radio, and Kustaw from the De Pers are some of the regulars. And finally, members of Mr Wilders' parliamentary party are a fixture behind the glass of the balcony.
The head judge speaks firmly but also graciously, addressing the defendant in an almost friendly, fatherly manner, even joking now and again. Mr Moszkowicz also speak in refined, polite terms, often couching his objections in compliments.
Different script
But today these two central figures diverge from the script.
As judge Van Oosten announces a half-hour break, Mr Moszkowicz half rises from his seat, and says “I need to catch a flight for another case later this morning”. Judge van Oosten, who has already stood up to leave the courtroom, is visibly surprised. He pauses to glare at Mr Moszkowicz, and says only, “We will see, we will see. At any rate, we’ll be back here in half an hour.” To which an agitated Mr Moszkowicz, responds under his breath as he takes his seat again, “Well, I may not be here”.
Lions
After everyone returns from a shortened break, the two return to their usual civility. But the image remains of two lions, circling each other, growling from behind bared teeth.
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Joker, you brought-up the subject of sewage and who else but an expert like you would understand the analogy. Speaking of sewage...! Batman at your service for Truth, Justice, and Freedom for all those who don't want to be subjugated to Islamic tyranny like they do against women and children (whom they consider property and not humans).
Methane is created when waste ferments without oxygen in sewer lines; therefore, ventilation is required, via risers or fans, in order to prevent an explosion. Waste without ventilation will cause an explosion. How does waste build-up in a sewer system? It builds-up because the architects and builders did not have the foresight to see the potential problems of too much waste and not the proper resources to deal with the problems caused by their excessive waste, i.e., methane (which is orderless and therefore deadly unless detected early). In this case, Wilders is the plumber and not the problem. He is exposing the problems of excessive, mass immigration by speaking-out against the dangers of mass immigration of a people who care nothing for anyone who is not a Believer of their faith. Connecting a sewer line to a ventilation fan is a necessary fact in both plumbing and politics. Wilders is correct.
Holy forced analogy, Batman. Speaking of sewage...
Joker, you brought-up the subject of sewage and who else but an expert like you would understand the analogy. Speaking of sewage...! Batman at your service for Truth, Justice, and Freedom for all those who don't want to be subjugated to Islamic tyranny like they do against women and children (whom they consider property and not humans).
What a ridiculous man, and what a farcical trial. It's like connecting a sewer line to a ventilation fan.
I believe that Wilders and his gang of somewhat unsavoury parliamentary supporters will be a passing phenomenon.
This trial is an undesirable opportunity for Wilder's artificially blond ego to become even more bloated, whatever the outcome.
The PVV was elected by largely disaffected voters according to the established political system and any resistance to its ultra-nationalistic, ignorant, opportunist, prejudicial intentions should be fought out in the political arena. The issues, particularly regional differences in the Netherlands are not being squarely faced by the governmental establishment.
The attempt to suppress Wilders retrograde ideology through the Justice system is an avoidance of political confrontation and further encourages
the blathering idiocies of posters such as ‘Anonymous’
What a disgrace to Holland and an embarrassment to all of it's citizens that this CRAZY trial should be going on ! It's absurd--that man isn't guilty of anything. If he can be jailed or fined for saying what he thinks of a religion so can you or I. And we have to wonder what's happening to freedom . I'll tell you what's happened--Muslims all over Europe have gained power and are taking advantage of host country's generousity and tolerance. They bring a culture with them that is inhumane and is not compatable with democracy, so why aren't MORE people complaining ? What are we -suicidal ? Geert is a hero and a very outstanding brave man. Nobody should have to go through what he's gone through. Will there be no end to it ? Those judges and Dutch government are miserable, weak spineless ignorant cowards who cave in to Muslim desires every time. Islamization of Europe --see it coming ! Geert is way ahead of most other politicians--he speaks the truth; he understands what's happening and is trying to warn the people. Stand by him !
David Berridge, this court set-up by EU and via it's puppets, is nothing more than a "Volksgerichtshof" (People's Court). If they will go after a politician in order to silence him, just thnk what they will do the average person who speaks-out. The court in which Wilders is being persecuted is a Volksgerichtshof court. The judge is the one who is cocky and it is because he knows the outcome, already.
Geert looks quite cocky in the photo despite the fact that he remains a coveted judicial prize. Geert's lawyer is out of order claiming just before a break instead of the beginning of the session that he is required to fly out of town that morning. Geert should have obtained a full time retainer for his legal defence.
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