Anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders has told an Amsterdam court that his trial is not just about freedom of speech but also about the truth. The leader of the Freedom Party (PVV) argues what he has said about the Muslim religion is true.
He is being prosecuted for incitement to hate and discrimination towards Muslims. On the first day of his trial, he called on the judge to allow all the witnesses called by his lawyer to give evidence in court.
Dutch lawyer Bram Moszkowicz for the defence wants to call various experts on both the law and Islam. He also plans to call Mohammed Bouyeri, the Islamic militant who is serving a life sentence for the murder of film-maker Theo van Gogh.
The controversial trial of Mr Wilders has been adjourned and will resume in two weeks. The prosecution has asked that Mr Wilders give evidence to an examining magistrate, arguing that it will take too long if the politician is allowed to give evidence in court. The judges will decide on this and whether the other witnesses can be called to give evidence before the case resumes.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Geert Wilders in court (ANP)
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Throw the case out, it should have never been brought up in the first place!
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