The charges against far-right MP Geert Wilders have been extended to include inciting hatred of Moroccans and non-Western ethnic minorities, de Volkskrant newspaper reports.
Up to now, the Freedom Party leader has been charged with inciting hatred against Muslims for his remarks in the media and his anti-Islam film Fitna. Mr Wilders has compared the Qur’an to Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and called for it to be banned.
However, the public prosecutor’s office has now decided to widen the charges, based in part on Mr Wilders' response in a 2006 interview when asked what he would do if he came to power in the Netherlands: "The same day the borders would be closed to all non-Western immigrants." Mr Wilders has also expressed this view in parliament.
The decision to widen the charges is striking because the public prosecutor’s office initially decided there wasn't enough of a case to go forward. It only went ahead with the prosecution after an Amsterdam court ruled last year that Mr Wilders should indeed face charges of insulting Muslims as a group and inciting hatred and discrimination towards them.
Insight
The lawyers who brought the case against Mr Wilders have welcomed the public prosecutor’s move. Haroon Raza of anti-racism organisation NBK told de Volkskrant he was “extremely satisfied”. NBK argues that Mr Wilders is not only anti-Islam but also racist. Amsterdam lawyer Gerard Spong described the public prosecutor’s decision as a sign of “deepening insight”. It was he who brought the appeal against the initial conclusion that Mr Wilders should not be prosecuted.
The public prosecutor’s office has not commented on the reasons behind its decision to widen the charges. A spokesperson told de Volkskrant that the motivation would be explained during the initial hearing in the case, set for 20 January.
Objections
Mr Wilders’ lawyer Bram Moszkowicz set out his objections to the charges in a closed hearing on Wednesday. He argued that there were no grounds to prosecute his client for insulting Muslims as a group.
Mr Wilders says that his criticism has always been directed against Islam as a religion, and not against Muslims. He attended the hearing in person although he did not enter the court by the main entrance due to death threats which have been made against him.
At the end of the hearing, the court threw out Geert Wilders's objections to the charges, so the trial will go ahead as planned next week. Wilders repeated that he believes the prosecution to be politically motivated, saying there was more justice in North Korea.
Past remarks by Geert Wilders:
“Introduce an immediate halt on immigration for people from Muslim countries. Forbid the burqa and the fascist Qur’an.”
“Let us reconquer our streets. Let us ensure that finally the Netherlands really looks like the Netherlands. […] Time for the big clean-up of our streets.”
“There is no moderate Islam. Islam is as I see it is a fascist ideology.”
Geert Wilders (ANP)
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European attitudes are really quite puzzling. In almost every mosque hate speech against Jews and other 'infidels' is being thundered to the crowds every Friday service, and for some mysterious reason 'they' are allowed to pursue their unholy war, whereas a Dutch person in his own country is not allowed to point out the simple fact that Islam is in fact an expansionist ideology without the slightest doubt. The other fact is that Islam is anti-democratic, anti human rights, especially those of women, and does not prohibit violent means in order to attain its objectives. Not every Nazi was a murderer, not every Moslem is violent. Nevertheless, the Nazi-ideology was a murderous one, and Islam condones and encourages to violence in order to attain its goals. Why is it such a massive taboo to call a spade a spade??
Now I see why you wanted to remain anonymous (Anonymous 31 August 2010). Your opinions about Islam are just that . . . Opinions-no truth behind any of it. But it's not your fault; many of the unintelligent or uneducated population seem to talk that way about matters that they have no idea about. I have studied Islam and have many peaceful Muslim friends and I know for FACT that Friday services are only for Friday prayers and set Islamic teachings of peace and ethics. I also know that a holy war is only when an oppressor comes to your homeland to strip you of your rights. I think anyone in the right state of mind would condone the fight for freedom and liberty. And please don't speak of women rights. Australian and many women of western culture had to fight very hard before they even got to have a say in their parliamentary elections. Islam had it written in their holy book that women and men are equal and that heaven lies under the feet of a mother. Those who don't follow these teachings are obviously not true Muslims. Common sense would tell us that. So before you begin accusing Islam of anything, just make sure what you say is not what you may have heard from another uneducated friend of yours or what you've overheard from someone else.
P.S Geert Wilders is a love child of Hitler and he continues to give us reasons to say so.
The Dutch establishment should FREE Geert Wilders as They are going to look like fools when he testifies.
The Man is a very good and Honorable man. You DUTCH have fallen far. You are opening up a can of worms that will put all of Europe on a bind and the evil will swallow you.
An image says but that a hundred words look at the photo and tell me if is not a racist? but even being it has the liberty of saying what feels and what thinks, that is a right that to nobody should be deprived.
Journalists, and anyone who dare give a negative opinion of Islam in The Netherlands seems to have lost their freedom of speech due to the fact the Establishment is scared shitless of the Muslims. I have seen the comments published in Dutch papers what the Imams have said about the Netherlands: "what pigs they are, how decadent they are etc, etc." They get away with it because the Dutch, Europeans in general are too scared of the consequences of talking negatively about a religion that goes wacko when you draw a cartoon of their sky-god.
By widening the charges, calling him a racist, the Dutch establishment is trying to marginalize Geert Wilders because he they know he speaks truths that resonate with a huge portion of the Dutch population. Free speech in The Netherlands? Don't make me laugh.
The education level in the last 30-40 years in The Netherlands was at a exceptional low level. The MP's of the political systeem in The Netherlands can only communicate in "One Liners". Hitler created the tragic Jew Holocaust (Europe) and the Muslims created the Hindu Holocaust (India). The woII in Europe is come to an end. The Hindu Holocaust has an open end. Maybe Mr. Wilders is starting the beginning of the end of this open end. The world is now a global village. Before you condemn Mr. Wilders put his idea on a larger scale. Freedom of speach makes The Netherlands a great country.
At least Gert Wilders is trying to do something for the future of the Netherlands. I can just imagine the consequences if people don't wake up. Your grand children will grow up in a foreign culture that will show no respect to human rights and no freedom of religion. By then it will be too late. Just wait and see.
Adam, all countries have a right to decide who enters their borders, so quit your whining or go somewhere else.
Sadly, no amount of evidence will change the minds of people who are committed to 'see no evil' except in those who speak out against it.
For the muslims who are non-violent, you bear some responsiblity in denouncing violence and terrorism loudly. I also challenge you to look at the Christ of the New Testament if you want to see the nature of God.
That goes for you humanistic/nihilistic Dutch as well. Your spiritual paucity will rot you from within. Read about the life of Corrie Ten Boom if you want to see the face of true courage and Christian character.
Can I press charges against the Dutch government for requiring residence permits for people like me, a fellow human being who just happens to be a non-EU citizen? Because the very requirement of a residence permit and the very fact that Dutch law actively seeks to keep people out is discrimination against all non-EU peoples. Where is my justice? Where is our justice? Why is the Dutch government inciting hatred on the entire non-Dutch population of the world?
I don't know what country you came from but all countries have residence requirements. What planet do you live on?
Adam, good point! lol if you take this to court, put a word in for my non Eu American and Canadian friends too please?
USA or Canada need to offer Geert Wilders political asylum and get him out of this nightmare of a country before he is unjustifiably prosecuted like a slaughtered lamb on the alter. This is injustice to prosecute a man for free speech! As a matter of fact, USA and Canada should offer all Dutch citizens citizenship before their rights are taken away too.
You don't think that Geert would be juming from the frying pan into the fire to come to the U.S?
When he waS HERE HE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM. I believe him to be a very brave man who wants to get the truth out to the masses. He has done what all of us should be doing and that is speaking out against the evil that is engulfing our Nation
FREE GEERT WILDERS!
FREE GEERT WILDERS !!
kate@katewerk.com
our canadian young men and women died to save the Dutchs butts in ww2 so you would be free to speak and live in freedom. What the hells a matter with you people.Hitler would be proud of his fellow socialists for prosecuting Wilders
You haven't a clue on the difference between Hitler's "fascism", the meanings of socialism, or the consequences of the Strasbourg Accords decades ago, do you?
Wilders statement "“There is no moderate Islam. Islam is as I see it is a fascist ideology.”....... A definition of Fascism is: "Fascist governments forbid and suppress openness and opposition to the fascist state and the fascist movement." If one replaces governments, fascist state and fascist movenment with Islam(ic) instead of fascist it would read "Islamic governments forbid and suppress openness and opposition to the Islamic religion and the Islamic movement." If Wilders can show the courts how the Quran and it's followers are similar to fascism, then Wilders as "he sees it" is correct. There are numerous correlations in the suppression of openess between fascism and Islam. Wilders' opinion, since he stated "as I see it", is probally very accurate. { Wilders will be found guilty by the courts because the powers to be in Europe want to suppress his openess and opposition to the crimes committed by those Jihadist terrorists. The EU is putting him on trial because he called Islam fascism but it is the EU the Dutch courts who are the fascists. The are suppressing him and his voice by putting him on trial. The EU courts will convict him just like the Third Reich's Volksgerichtshof did with thousands of innocent citizens: but, they will do it to appease the EU and the EU will do it to appease the Muslims. European justice at it's best!
The left can't be expected to get in next time if this is what they do. Dd some one say neo-fascism?
Arev, Hitler would have hated Wilders because Geert Wilders is NO RACIST! He protects the Jewish people and stands up for them. Hitler murdered millions of Jewish families! Wilders defends gay rights, which Hitler hated gays! So you should read history before opening your big mouth with untruths!
Geert will never know when to keep his big mouth shut until after he ( or if he ever will ) gets into power running the government. His party definately needs a new leader.
Hitler would have loved this guy.
This man could be compared to Churchill, but certainly not Hitler.
The Dutch Government is more like Hitler or the Natzis. I feel sorry for you that you can not see the difference.
Geert Wilders is a very brave and bold man. why else do the Muslims want to shut him up. You need some education on all of this. read "Muslim Mafia" by Dave Gabaltz also go to ACTFORAMERICA.org
Arev, go and live in a Muslim country..
He won't because he wouldn't have the freedom to speak his mind in an Islamic state as he does here.
Totally ridiculous charges, I am sorry but this goes too far! Wilders is only guilty of being obnoxious but not a racist for godsakes! BNP in Uk are racists, Neo Nazis are racists, but `Wilders is not and he is against such parties that are racists! In order to charge Wilders of discrimination or racism against NON Western immigrants, then charges against all political parties and judges etc are guilty of the same thing because a lot of the immigration laws are against NON WESTERN immigrants. Might as well go after the whole lot of EU politicians then because they too want borders closed against NON Western immigration and preach it almost daily in the media. Time to get real and drop these charges before the whole of Europe is charged wrongfully of discrimination!
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